Leukemia
Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. Each year, nearly 27,000 adults and more than 2,000 children in this country learn they have leukemia.
To understand leukemia, it is necessary to know what blood is and what it does. Blood is made of fluid called plasma and three types of cells, each with a different function. White blood cells (leukocytes) help the body fight infection and other diseases. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) carry oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and take carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Platelets (thrombocytes) help form blood clots to control bleeding.
Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. Normally, blood cells are produced in an orderly, controlled way. When leukemia develops, the body produces large numbers of abnormal blood cells, usually white blood cells.
At the John Stoddard Cancer Center, you can be assured that we will be here for you through every step of your battle against leukemia. Using our extensive experience dealing with every stage this disease, our cutting-edge treatments, and vast resources, we will do everything we can to help.
Read on to find out more about leukemia and what we have to offer. You'll see that from diagnosis through treatment and follow-up, you can count on us to provide quality, comprehensive care. Together, we can design the best possible treatment plan for you. Know that, along with hundreds of other cancer centers nationwide, we will continue our research to help find a cure for this disease.