History of Leukemia

The Greek words "Leukos" and "Heima" is nothing but Leukemia, which means white blood and it actually means excess of white blood cells in a human body. It is a type of Blood Cancer or Bone Marrow Cancer which encompasses an abundantly huge range of health problems. The white blood cells are produced abundantly and profusely which later on causes Leukemia. Bone Marrow aids in production of blood and is called as blood factory of the body. In Bone marrow, the blood cells divide to form new blood cells. The old blood cells are replaced by new blood cells, which implies the old blood cells die. But the person starts suffering from the deadly cancer if the old blood cells do not die and there is over production of blood cells as they start dividing at a faster pace. There is excess production of while blood cells in the bone marrow and these white blood cells are known as leukemia or leukocytes. This further leads to poor immune system and poor resistance power and the patient's body is unable to fight infections easily.

During the 14th or 15th century, the Greeks discovered the blood disease. But John Hughes Benett was the first person to legally discovered leukemia in 1845 in Edinburgh. Later on, in the 19th century, many European scientists found out that there were some people who suffered from abnormal and excess production of white blood cells. They called it as "weisses blut" that means white blood.

Soon in the year 1913, leukemia was grouped into 4 main groups:

1. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
2. Chronic myelogenous leukemia
3. Acute lymphocytic leukemia
4. (Erythroleukemia)-Acute myelogenous leukemia

Then in the year 1970, it was discovered that leukemia can be treated. In 1970s and 1980s, 70% of the people suffering from leukemia were treated which was a new ray of hope for leukemia patients. Yet people don't realize which disease they are actually suffering from and which disease are they fighting with.

These days several children are seen suffering from leukemia and this is continuously increasing rapidly. The major reason for this problem is that these children are not breastfed enough so they have weak immune system. Their resistance against several health problems is quite low and therefore they are prone to this deadly cancer. Breastfeeding helps your child develop a strong immune system thereby helping them to fight against various infections during childhood.

The people in developing countries or industrialized countries have higher chances of developing leukemia. This is due to the fact that people in these countries are continuously exposed to harmful chemicals and smoke. They inhale harmful gases like benzene and formaldehyde, or exposure to atomic gases and radiations, and consumption of preserved and fast food which include injurious preservatives that result in development of leukemia.

Today, leukemia can be successfully treated as there are several effective treatments like radiation, chemotherapy along with aminopterin, 6-mercaptopurin, 6-mercaptopurine. The discovery of DNA aided to know the factors causing cancer with minute facts. One of the most effective treatments is bone marrow transplant. The Genetic analysis is considered the best future treatment for leukemia.