One of the leading causes of death by cancer is leukemia. Although there are many available treatments for this cancer, a lot of patients still do not make it. This is because over the years, this disease has sort of mutated and there are now lots of classifications of this disease and each type differ in gravity. Perhaps one kind of leukemia that is worth discussing is myelogenous leukemia, commonly called AML. This is considered as the most common type of leukemia contacted by adults. There are over 10,100 cases, all new ones, of this type of leukemia every year. According to statistics, older people are more prone to this type of leukemia than children.

Types of Myelogenous Leukemia

Just like any other leukemia, there are only two types for this one- the acute myelogenous leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia. This type of leukemia is characterized by a malignant activity in which white blood cells are over reproduced. White blood cells are the very things in our body that strengthen our immune system. Without this, the body will become practically defenseless.

How Leukemia Works

So why would over production of these cells be bad, you may ask. The main problem with this malignancy is that the white blood cells being reproduces are immature and are completely useless. The body, though, cannot differentiate the immature and mature white blood cells so it cannot ward them off. Just like many cancer cells, the immature white blood cells look like healthy ones and they keep on reproducing, overpowering the normal ones until such time there is almost nothing left.

Cause of Myelogenous Leukemia

There is actually no known cause of leukemia, much less myelogenus leukemia, acure or chronic. However, many proponents in the field of medicine claim that exposure to certain substances can cause leukemia. These causes include but are not limited to smoking, exposure to tobacco, chewing tobacco, and exposure to the drug benzene, and exposure to chemotherapy drugs. It is also proven that AML is not contagious and is not inherited.

The Symptoms and Effects of AML

There is not much known symptoms of AML or leukemia. Before the symptoms are even seem the abnormal cells are already there. In terms of laboratory tests for acute myelogenous leukemia prognosis, there is an observed rapid or exaggerated growth of cells that doctors call leukemic blasts. These cells pretend to be healthy cells although they are not. The normal marrow cells are also hindered from producing and this leads to a serious deficiency of red blood cells, causing anemia. Without the tests, the most common symptoms are fatigue. Shortage of breathe, pale skin, development of infections like sore throat, pain in the bones and joints, swollen gums, bruises that come out of nowhere, and nose bleeding.

Treatment of AML

Myelogenous leukemia treatment is pretty much available. There are many approaches used for this disease such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other drugs that react, restrict, or respond to the abnormal reproduction of immature white blood cells.