Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

     I enjoy learning about the components of blood, it is fascinating for me. So, for my disease project I chose a disease that dealt with the blood, more specifically with leukocytes. I think part of the reason that I find the blood so intriguing is because at first, it was confusing to me and it seemed too complicated to understand. Once I learned the material it all made sense and now it's kind of fun. Hope you enjoy this quick overview as much as I did!
     Leukocytes are white blood cells and there are five different types. There are all pretty cool and unique. Blood stem cells are what give rise to the various type of cells. They are grouped into myeloid cells and lymphoid stem cells. The myeloid cells can become erythrocytes (red blood cells), thrombocytes (platelets), or granulocytes (Neutrophils, Basophils, and Eosinophils). As opposed to the lymphoid cells that become B cells, T cells, and NK cells (they are also leukocytes). Myeloid and lymphoid stem cells both have the capability of developing into leukocytes, although they are different type of leukocytes (nonetheless, they are still leukocytes). As a result, this can be detrimental to an individual because an overproduction of leukocytes means that there is less space for other cells (erythrocytes, thrombocytes, and leukocytes). Another factor that affects this abundance is that the granulocytes developing from the myeloid stem cells (hence the name of the disease, pretty cool) are produced with a defect that makes them abnormal and not healthy.
     In conclusion, a person with leukemia has two harmful events occurring simultaneously in the body. Not only is there an over production of leukocytes, they are also not functioning properly. This is crucial to their health because it is the neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils that are being defected. These three granulocytes perform necessary functions for keeping the body healthy. Thankfully, individuals with this disease do have several treatment options to choose from. Hope you learned something new and are willing to share your knowledge to educate the world one person at a time! :)