Before I can tell you about what leukemia is, let me give a quick lesson on blood. The blood is composed of cells and plasma. The cells are composed of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues in the body. The white blood cells help fight infection. The platelets help stop bleeding. The bone marrow is a spongy material where all cells develop. Blood passes through the marrow and picks up new cells. The stem cells stay in the marrow to help produce new cells. Leukemia is a type of cancer that originates in new cells being created in the marrow. Acute lukemia is a rapidly progressing form that affects mostly new cells. Chronic leukemia progresses slower. Anyhow, the leukemia cells crowd out all the good blood cells.



Yearly, about 2000 children and 28,000 adults are diagnosed with some form of leukemia. The most common form of childhood leukemia is the ALL. Generally, leukemia will be treated with 2 years of chemotherapy and some radiation. Chemotherapy is various chemicals used to kill the malignant cells. Neutropenic is the state where the body has so few white blood cells that it can no longer fight infection. Remission is the disappearance of the disease. Here are some great sites that can help you understand all this:

Leukemia Society
Childhood ALL
ACS Childhood Leukemia


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