Who discovered leukemia and when did this discovery occur?
Pathologist Rudolf Virchow examined a blood sample in 1845 and named the condition Leukämie. This observation marked the first clear medical description of what we now call leukemia.
Questions about Leukemia
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What are the main types of leukemia and how do they differ?
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia represents the most common form found in young children while chronic myelogenous leukemia follows a slower course. The distinction between these four main categories dictates whether treatment must begin immediately or if watchful waiting is appropriate.
What causes leukemia according to studies from 2009 and 2010?
Studies conducted in 2009 and 2010 revealed a positive correlation between exposure to formaldehyde and the development of leukemia. People living near nuclear reactor accidents face increased risks due to large doses of Strontium-90 radioisotopes and smoking tobacco creates a small increase in risk for acute myeloid leukemia among adults.
How is leukemia diagnosed and why might early tests fail?
Diagnosis usually begins with repeated complete blood counts followed by a bone marrow examination after symptoms appear. Sometimes early-stage blood tests fail to show that a person has leukemia because cancerous cells remain trapped inside the marrow.
What treatments exist for different forms of leukemia today?
Most forms of leukemia are treated with pharmaceutical medication combined into multi-drug chemotherapy regimens. Chronic myelogenous leukemia patients often receive imatinib therapy which allows more than 90% of people to keep the disease in check for at least five years.
How many people had leukemia worldwide in 2015 and what were the death rates?
In 2015 leukemia was present in 2.3 million people worldwide and caused 353,500 deaths. Approximately 44,270 new cases were diagnosed in the United States during the year 2008 alone.