Leukemias are cancers of the blood and occur when there is an excess accumulation of abnormal (immature) blood cells (called blasts). Instead of maturing normally, large numbers of these blast cells turn into abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal cells cannot carry out the normal functions of white blood cells. They crowd the bone marrow and spill into the blood and may then spread into organs such as the liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys and into the cerebro spinal fluid to the brain.
In leukemia, the cells do not mature properly but continue to multiply and the bone marrow is replaced by these abnormal cells spilling over into the blood. Because the bone marrow can no longer produce sufficient normal blood cells and platelets, anemia, infections and bruising occurs. Continue reading ‘What Are Leukemias?’ »