Sickle cell anemia : Sickle cell anemia is a disease passed down through families. The red blood cells which are normally shaped like a disc take on a sickle or crescent shape. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body. Causes Sickle cell anemia is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin is a protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen. • Hemoglobin S changes the red blood cells. The red blood cells become fragile and shaped like crescents or sickles. • The abnormal cells deliver less oxygen to the body's tissues. • They can also easily get stuck in small blood vessels and break into pieces. This can interrupt healthy blood flow and cut down even more on the amount of oxygen flowing to body tissues. Sickle cell anemia is inherited from both parents. If you get the sickle cell gene from only one parent, you will have sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait do not have the symptoms of sickle cell anemia. Symptoms When the anemia becomes more severe, symptoms may include: • Fatigue • Paleness • Rapid heart rate • Shortness of breath • Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice) Younger children with sickle cell anemia have attacks of abdominal pain. The following symptoms may occur because small blood vessels become blocked by the abnormal cells: • Painful and prolonged erection (priapism) • Poor eyesight or blindness • Problems with thinking or confusion caused by small strokes • Ulcers on the lower legs (in adolescents and adults) Over time, the spleen stops working. As a result, people with sickle cell anemia may have symptoms of infections such as: • Bone infection (osteomyelitis) • Gallbladder infection (cholecystitis) • Lung infection (pneumonia) • Urinary tract infection Other symptoms include: • Delayed growth and puberty • Painful joints caused by arthritis Treatment The goal of treatment is to manage and control symptoms, and to limit the number of crises. People with sickle cell disease need ongoing treatment, even when not having a crisis. It is best to get care from health care that take care of many patients with sickle cell anemia. People with this condition should take folic acid supplements. Folic acid helps make new red blood cells. Treatment for a sickle cell crisis includes: • Blood transfusions (may also be given regularly to prevent stroke) • Pain medicines • Plenty of fluids Other treatments for sickle cell anemia may include: • Hydroxyurea (Hydrea). Helps reduce the number of pain episodes (including chest pain and breathing problems) in some people • Antibiotics. Help prevent bacterial infections, which are common in children with sickle cell disease Treatments that may be needed to manage complications of sickle cell anemia include: • Dialysis or kidney transplant for kidney disease • Counseling for psychological complications • Gallbladder removal in people with gallstone disease • Hip replacement for avascular necrosis of the hip • Surgery for eye problems • Treatment for overuse or abuse of narcotic pain medicines • Wound care for leg ulcers Bone marrow or stem cell transplants can cure sickle cell anemia, but this treatment is not an option for most people. Sickle cell anemia patients often cannot find well-matched stem cell donors. People with sickle cell disease should have the following vaccinations to lower the risk of infection: • Haemophilus influenzae vaccine (Hib) • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) • Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)


Leukemia : Leukemia is cancer of the blood or bone marrow (which produces blood cells). A person who has leukemia suffers from an abnormal production of blood cells, generally leukocytes (white blood cells). The word Leukemia comes from the Greek leukos which means "white" and aima which means "blood". The DNA of immature blood cells, mainly white cells, becomes damaged in some way. This abnormality causes the blood cells to grow and divide chaotically. Normal blood cells die after a while and are replaced by new cells which are produced in the bone marrow. The abnormal blood cells do not die so easily, and accumulate, occupying more and more space. As more and more space is occupied by these faulty blood cells there is less and less space for the normal cells - and the sufferer becomes ill. Quite simply, the bad cells crowd out the good cells in the blood. Causes Experts say that different leukemias have different causes. The following are either known causes, or strongly suspected causes: ? Artificial ionizing radiation ? Viruses - HTLV-1 (human T-lymphotropic virus) and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) ? Benzene and some petrochemicals ? Alkylating chemotherapy agents used in previous cancers ? Maternal fetal transmission (rare) ? Hair dyes ? Genetic predisposition - some studies researching family history and looking at twins have indicated that some people have a higher risk of developing leukemia because of a single gene or multiple genes. ? Down syndrome - people with Down syndrome have a significantly higher risk of developing leukemia, compared to people who do not have Down syndrome. Experts say that because of this, people with certain chromosomal abnormalities may have a higher risk. ? Electromagnetic energy - studies indicate there is not enough evidence to show that ELF magnetic (not electric) fields that exist currently might cause leukemia. The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) says that studies which indicate there is a risk tend to be biased and unreliable. Signs and symptoms Common leukemia Signs and symptoms include: • Fever or chills • Persistent fatigue, weakness • Frequent or severe infections • Losing weight without trying • Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen • Easy bleeding or bruising • Recurrent nosebleeds • Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae) • Excessive sweating, especially at night • Bone pain or tenderness Classification The first type of classification is by how fast the leukemia progresses: • Acute leukemia. In acute leukemia, the abnormal blood cells are immature blood cells (blasts). They can't carry out their normal work, and they multiply rapidly, so the disease worsens quickly. Acute leukemia requires aggressive, timely treatment. • Chronic leukemia. This type of leukemia involves more mature blood cells. These blood cells replicate or accumulate more slowly and can function normally for a period of time. Some forms of chronic leukemia initially produce no early symptoms and can go unnoticed or undiagnosed for years. The second type of classification is by type of white blood cell affected: • Lymphocytic leukemia. This type of leukemia affects the lymphoid cells (lymphocytes), which form lymphoid or lymphatic tissue. Lymphatic tissue makes up your immune system. • Myelogenous (my-uh-LOHJ-uh-nus) leukemia. This type of leukemia affects the myeloid cells. Myeloid cells give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet-producing cells. Types of leukemia The major types of leukemia are: • Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). This is the most common type of leukemia in young children. ALL can also occur in adults. • Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). AML is a common type of leukemia. It occurs in children and adults. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). With CLL, the most common chronic adult leukemia, you may feel well for years without needing treatment. • Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This type of leukemia mainly affects adults. A person with CML may have few or no symptoms for months or years before entering a phase in which the leukemia cells grow more quickly. Medications Chemotherapy for leukemia is usually a combination of drugs. This is because different drugs attack leukemia cells in different ways. The combination also helps keep the leukemia cells from becoming resistant to any one drug. Medicine choices For acute leukemia Your treatment plan will include the kind of medicine that works best for the specific type or subtype of leukemia that you have. • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may be treated with chemotherapy medicines (asparaginase, clofarabine, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, methotrexate,nelarabine, or vincristine) and corticosteroids (dexamethasone or prednisone). • Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) may be treated with chemotherapy medicines (cytarabine, daunorubicin, idarubicin, or mitoxantrone).


Tumor : A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). Causes In general, tumors occur when cells divide and grow excessively in the body. Normally, cell growth and division is strictly controlled. New cells are created to replace older ones or to perform new functions. Cells that are damaged or no longer needed die to make room for healthy replacements. If the balance of cell growth and death is disturbed, a tumor may form. Problems with the body's immune system can lead to tumors. Tobacco causes more deaths from cancer than any other environmental substance. Other causes include: • Benzene and other chemicals and toxins • Drinking too much alcohol • Environmental toxins, such as certain poisonous mushrooms and a type of poison that can grow on peanut plants (aflatoxins) • Excessive sunlight exposure • Genetic problems • Obesity • Radiation • Viruses Types of tumors known to be caused by viruses are: • Cervical cancer (human papillomavirus) • Hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatitis B virus) Some tumors are more common in one gender than the other. Some are more common among children or the elderly. Others are related to diet, environment, and family history. Symptoms Symptoms depend on the type and location of the tumor. For example, lung tumors may cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Tumors of the colon can cause weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, iron deficiency anemia, and blood in the stool. Some tumors may not cause any symptoms. Others, such as pancreatic cancer, do not usually cause symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage. The following symptoms may occur with tumors: • Chills • Fatigue • Fever • Loss of appetite • Malaise • Night sweats • Weight loss Treatment Treatment varies based on: • Type of tumor • Whether it is cancer or not • Location of the tumor You may not need treatment if the tumor is benign (noncancerous) and in a "safe" area where it will not cause symptoms or cause problems with the way an organ works. Sometimes benign tumors may be removed for cosmetic reasons. Benign tumors of the brain may be removed because of their location or harmful effect on the surrounding normal brain tissue. If a tumor is cancer, possible treatments include: • Chemotherapy • Radiation • Surgery • A combination of these methods If a cancerous tumor is in one location, surgery is usually performed. Surgery may also be done if the tumor has spread only to nearby lymph nodes. If all of the cancer cannot be removed with surgery, treatment includes radiation or chemotherapy, or both. Some patients need a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.


Sickle cell anemia : Sickle cell anemia is a disease passed down through families. The red blood cells which are normally shaped like a disc take on a sickle or crescent shape. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body. Causes Sickle cell anemia is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin is a protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen. • Hemoglobin S changes the red blood cells. The red blood cells become fragile and shaped like crescents or sickles. • The abnormal cells deliver less oxygen to the body's tissues. • They can also easily get stuck in small blood vessels and break into pieces. This can interrupt healthy blood flow and cut down even more on the amount of oxygen flowing to body tissues. Sickle cell anemia is inherited from both parents. If you get the sickle cell gene from only one parent, you will have sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait do not have the symptoms of sickle cell anemia. Symptoms When the anemia becomes more severe, symptoms may include: • Fatigue • Paleness • Rapid heart rate • Shortness of breath • Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice) Younger children with sickle cell anemia have attacks of abdominal pain. The following symptoms may occur because small blood vessels become blocked by the abnormal cells: • Painful and prolonged erection (priapism) • Poor eyesight or blindness • Problems with thinking or confusion caused by small strokes • Ulcers on the lower legs (in adolescents and adults) Over time, the spleen stops working. As a result, people with sickle cell anemia may have symptoms of infections such as: • Bone infection (osteomyelitis) • Gallbladder infection (cholecystitis) • Lung infection (pneumonia) • Urinary tract infection Other symptoms include: • Delayed growth and puberty • Painful joints caused by arthritis Treatment The goal of treatment is to manage and control symptoms, and to limit the number of crises. People with sickle cell disease need ongoing treatment, even when not having a crisis. It is best to get care from health care that take care of many patients with sickle cell anemia. People with this condition should take folic acid supplements. Folic acid helps make new red blood cells. Treatment for a sickle cell crisis includes: • Blood transfusions (may also be given regularly to prevent stroke) • Pain medicines • Plenty of fluids Other treatments for sickle cell anemia may include: • Hydroxyurea (Hydrea). Helps reduce the number of pain episodes (including chest pain and breathing problems) in some people • Antibiotics. Help prevent bacterial infections, which are common in children with sickle cell disease Treatments that may be needed to manage complications of sickle cell anemia include: • Dialysis or kidney transplant for kidney disease • Counseling for psychological complications • Gallbladder removal in people with gallstone disease • Hip replacement for avascular necrosis of the hip • Surgery for eye problems • Treatment for overuse or abuse of narcotic pain medicines • Wound care for leg ulcers Bone marrow or stem cell transplants can cure sickle cell anemia, but this treatment is not an option for most people. Sickle cell anemia patients often cannot find well-matched stem cell donors. People with sickle cell disease should have the following vaccinations to lower the risk of infection: • Haemophilus influenzae vaccine (Hib) • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) • Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)


Leukemia : Leukemia is cancer of the blood or bone marrow (which produces blood cells). A person who has leukemia suffers from an abnormal production of blood cells, generally leukocytes (white blood cells). The word Leukemia comes from the Greek leukos which means "white" and aima which means "blood". The DNA of immature blood cells, mainly white cells, becomes damaged in some way. This abnormality causes the blood cells to grow and divide chaotically. Normal blood cells die after a while and are replaced by new cells which are produced in the bone marrow. The abnormal blood cells do not die so easily, and accumulate, occupying more and more space. As more and more space is occupied by these faulty blood cells there is less and less space for the normal cells - and the sufferer becomes ill. Quite simply, the bad cells crowd out the good cells in the blood. Causes Experts say that different leukemias have different causes. The following are either known causes, or strongly suspected causes: ? Artificial ionizing radiation ? Viruses - HTLV-1 (human T-lymphotropic virus) and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) ? Benzene and some petrochemicals ? Alkylating chemotherapy agents used in previous cancers ? Maternal fetal transmission (rare) ? Hair dyes ? Genetic predisposition - some studies researching family history and looking at twins have indicated that some people have a higher risk of developing leukemia because of a single gene or multiple genes. ? Down syndrome - people with Down syndrome have a significantly higher risk of developing leukemia, compared to people who do not have Down syndrome. Experts say that because of this, people with certain chromosomal abnormalities may have a higher risk. ? Electromagnetic energy - studies indicate there is not enough evidence to show that ELF magnetic (not electric) fields that exist currently might cause leukemia. The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) says that studies which indicate there is a risk tend to be biased and unreliable. Signs and symptoms Common leukemia Signs and symptoms include: • Fever or chills • Persistent fatigue, weakness • Frequent or severe infections • Losing weight without trying • Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen • Easy bleeding or bruising • Recurrent nosebleeds • Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae) • Excessive sweating, especially at night • Bone pain or tenderness Classification The first type of classification is by how fast the leukemia progresses: • Acute leukemia. In acute leukemia, the abnormal blood cells are immature blood cells (blasts). They can't carry out their normal work, and they multiply rapidly, so the disease worsens quickly. Acute leukemia requires aggressive, timely treatment. • Chronic leukemia. This type of leukemia involves more mature blood cells. These blood cells replicate or accumulate more slowly and can function normally for a period of time. Some forms of chronic leukemia initially produce no early symptoms and can go unnoticed or undiagnosed for years. The second type of classification is by type of white blood cell affected: • Lymphocytic leukemia. This type of leukemia affects the lymphoid cells (lymphocytes), which form lymphoid or lymphatic tissue. Lymphatic tissue makes up your immune system. • Myelogenous (my-uh-LOHJ-uh-nus) leukemia. This type of leukemia affects the myeloid cells. Myeloid cells give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet-producing cells. Types of leukemia The major types of leukemia are: • Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). This is the most common type of leukemia in young children. ALL can also occur in adults. • Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). AML is a common type of leukemia. It occurs in children and adults. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). With CLL, the most common chronic adult leukemia, you may feel well for years without needing treatment. • Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This type of leukemia mainly affects adults. A person with CML may have few or no symptoms for months or years before entering a phase in which the leukemia cells grow more quickly. Medications Chemotherapy for leukemia is usually a combination of drugs. This is because different drugs attack leukemia cells in different ways. The combination also helps keep the leukemia cells from becoming resistant to any one drug. Medicine choices For acute leukemia Your treatment plan will include the kind of medicine that works best for the specific type or subtype of leukemia that you have. • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may be treated with chemotherapy medicines (asparaginase, clofarabine, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, methotrexate,nelarabine, or vincristine) and corticosteroids (dexamethasone or prednisone). • Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) may be treated with chemotherapy medicines (cytarabine, daunorubicin, idarubicin, or mitoxantrone).


Tumor : A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). Causes In general, tumors occur when cells divide and grow excessively in the body. Normally, cell growth and division is strictly controlled. New cells are created to replace older ones or to perform new functions. Cells that are damaged or no longer needed die to make room for healthy replacements. If the balance of cell growth and death is disturbed, a tumor may form. Problems with the body's immune system can lead to tumors. Tobacco causes more deaths from cancer than any other environmental substance. Other causes include: • Benzene and other chemicals and toxins • Drinking too much alcohol • Environmental toxins, such as certain poisonous mushrooms and a type of poison that can grow on peanut plants (aflatoxins) • Excessive sunlight exposure • Genetic problems • Obesity • Radiation • Viruses Types of tumors known to be caused by viruses are: • Cervical cancer (human papillomavirus) • Hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatitis B virus) Some tumors are more common in one gender than the other. Some are more common among children or the elderly. Others are related to diet, environment, and family history. Symptoms Symptoms depend on the type and location of the tumor. For example, lung tumors may cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Tumors of the colon can cause weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, iron deficiency anemia, and blood in the stool. Some tumors may not cause any symptoms. Others, such as pancreatic cancer, do not usually cause symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage. The following symptoms may occur with tumors: • Chills • Fatigue • Fever • Loss of appetite • Malaise • Night sweats • Weight loss Treatment Treatment varies based on: • Type of tumor • Whether it is cancer or not • Location of the tumor You may not need treatment if the tumor is benign (noncancerous) and in a "safe" area where it will not cause symptoms or cause problems with the way an organ works. Sometimes benign tumors may be removed for cosmetic reasons. Benign tumors of the brain may be removed because of their location or harmful effect on the surrounding normal brain tissue. If a tumor is cancer, possible treatments include: • Chemotherapy • Radiation • Surgery • A combination of these methods If a cancerous tumor is in one location, surgery is usually performed. Surgery may also be done if the tumor has spread only to nearby lymph nodes. If all of the cancer cannot be removed with surgery, treatment includes radiation or chemotherapy, or both. Some patients need a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.