Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer that affects the blood cells created in the body’s bone marrow. Many patients with AML were exposed to Benzene in their lives, either through their occupations or the environment. In AML, there are malignant white blood cells which hinder the creation of healthy blood cells. The malignant cancer cells in AML are called myeloblasts. A myeloblast is an immature myeloid white blood cell, and usually these immature cells develop into mature white blood cells. However, in Acute Myeloid Leukemia, these cells never develop into fully mature infection-fighting white blood cells. Instead, they continue to reproduce as immature cells. As a cancer cell divides (or reproduces), there are errors in certain genes and the DNA is therefore copied incorrectly. This results in the proliferation of cancerous cells with problematic DNA. In AML, there are various types of DNA mutations that can occur.
Patients with AML have fewer white blood cells and are more susceptible to infections because the cancerous cells are incapable of fighting infections. Patients may also experience anemia, fatigue and shortness of breath due to the cancer’s affect on red blood cells, and bruising or bleeding due to the cancer’s affect on platelets. Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia also sometimes experience fever, spots on the skin, and weight loss. Diagnosis is confirmed through blood tests and bone marrow examinations. Acute myeloid leukemia is treated with chemotherapy, or anti-cancer drugs. Stem cell transplants are also sometimes performed.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is thought by many to be linked to Benzene exposure. CLL progresses more slowly than acute leukemias. In CLL, there are mutations in cells called lymphocytes, and these abnormal cells eventually reproduce in the marrow and lymph nodes and interfere with the production of normal blood forming cells and the fighting off of infection. Blood stem cells that become lymphoid stem cells and them lymphocytes are affected in CLL. There are three types of lymphocytes. B lymphocytes (B-cells) and T lymphocytes (T-cells) produce antibodies that fight infection, and Natural Killer cells (NK-cells) fight cancer cells and viruses. Most cases of CLL involve the production of B-cells but some involve T-cells and NK-cells.
Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia may experience an enlarged lymph node, fatigue, shortness of breath, enlarged spleen, skin infections, bleeding and bruising, pain in the rib area, night sweats and weight loss. CLL is diagnosed through blood and bone marrow tests. The most common type of CLL affects the B-cells, however there are many cases of CLL which affect the T-cells or the NK-cells.
If you or a loved one were exposed to Benzene and developed leukemia (either Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), you have legal rights. We will fight for you and your family to obtain the best possible legal outcome in your Benzene leukemia case. Please contact Mark & Associates, P.C. for a free consultation about your potential case. Call 1-866-50-RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448) or fill out the form at the right.
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