Survivor's StorySurvivor's Story

A diagnosis of a life threatening disease can be A diagnosis of a life threatening disease can be very overwhelming and often times very overwhelming and often times devastating, particularly when you have been devastating, particularly when you have been delivered the news more than once. Upon my delivered the news more than once. Upon my initial diagnosis, nearly seven years ago, I initial diagnosis, nearly seven years ago, I remember so distinctly the physician's words remember so distinctly the physician's words as they lashed out at me, "You have as they lashed out at me, "You have

dangerous diseasedangerous disease ." ."

How could this be? At the time, I held a job that How could this be? At the time, I held a job that required me to travel all over the world. It was required me to travel all over the world. It was not unusual to be on a plane several times a not unusual to be on a plane several times a week. Anyone that was a road warrior would week. Anyone that was a road warrior would be tired and bruised. Little did I know that I be tired and bruised. Little did I know that I was sick and deathly sick for that matter. was sick and deathly sick for that matter. Suddenly my world began to change and what Suddenly my world began to change and what was about to happen to me was the start of an was about to happen to me was the start of an

incredible experienceincredible experience . .

Preparation & HopePreparation & Hope

Like any journey, there is always preparation. Even Like any journey, there is always preparation. Even though the statistics were not promising, I knew that I though the statistics were not promising, I knew that I would have to compose a plan so that I would would have to compose a plan so that I would successfully achieve remission. This proved to be a successfully achieve remission. This proved to be a strenuous endeavor since I was still digesting the strenuous endeavor since I was still digesting the diagnosis. Hope is an essential part of the will to diagnosis. Hope is an essential part of the will to live . I was already a survivor, for I was still alive live . I was already a survivor, for I was still alive after hearing that I had that disease. The greatest after hearing that I had that disease. The greatest single mortality factor in this disease is the patient single mortality factor in this disease is the patient

believing that death and it are synonymousbelieving that death and it are synonymous .. ..

What is leukemiaWhat is leukemia??

Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. Blood cells are Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. Blood cells are made by your bone which is marrow, the soft tissue made by your bone which is marrow, the soft tissue in the middle of most bones. In leukemia, the bone in the middle of most bones. In leukemia, the bone marrow starts making too many white blood cells, marrow starts making too many white blood cells, and sometimes these cells don't work right. These and sometimes these cells don't work right. These cells keep growing when they are supposed to stop. cells keep growing when they are supposed to stop. They also grow faster than your other cells. Over They also grow faster than your other cells. Over time, these abnormal cells crowd out your normal time, these abnormal cells crowd out your normal

white blood cells, red blood cells, and plateletswhite blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets . .

The characteristics of normal cellsThe characteristics of normal cells

Normal body cells have a number of Normal body cells have a number of important characteristics.  They canimportant characteristics.  They can

Reproduce themselves exactly Reproduce themselves exactly Stop reproducing at the right time Stop reproducing at the right time Stick together in the right place Stick together in the right place Self destruct if they are damaged Self destruct if they are damaged Become specialized or 'mature'Become specialized or 'mature'

How cancer cells are differentHow cancer cells are different

Cancer cells are different to normal cells in several Cancer cells are different to normal cells in several ways.  These are some features of cancer cellsways.  These are some features of cancer cells

They carry or reproducing.They carry or reproducing. They don’t obey signals from other neighboring They don’t obey signals from other neighboring

cells . cells . They don’t stick together. They don’t stick together. become specialized , but stay immature.become specialized , but stay immature. They don’t die if they move to another part of the They don’t die if they move to another part of the

body . body .

Cancer cells don't stop reproducingCancer cells don't stop reproducing

Unlike normal cells, cancer cells do not Unlike normal cells, cancer cells do not stop reproducing after they have doubled stop reproducing after they have doubled 50 or 60 times. This means that a cancer 50 or 60 times. This means that a cancer cell will go on and on and on doubling. cell will go on and on and on doubling. So one cell becomes 2, then 4, then 8, So one cell becomes 2, then 4, then 8,

then 16then 16 .... ....

The cancer cells may be able to stop The cancer cells may be able to stop themselves self destructing.  Or they may themselves self destructing.  Or they may self destruct more slowly than they self destruct more slowly than they reproduce, so that their numbers continue reproduce, so that their numbers continue to increase.  Eventually a tumour is to increase.  Eventually a tumour is formed that is made up of billions of formed that is made up of billions of copies of the original cancerous cell.  copies of the original cancerous cell.  Scientists describe cancer cells as being Scientists describe cancer cells as being

'immortal'immortal .' .'

Cancer cells do not obey signalsCancer cells do not obey signals

Something in the cancer cells overrides the Something in the cancer cells overrides the normal signaling system. This may be because normal signaling system. This may be because the genes that tell the cell to reproduce keep on the genes that tell the cell to reproduce keep on and on firing. Or because the genes that and on firing. Or because the genes that normally tell the cell to stop reproducing have normally tell the cell to stop reproducing have been damaged or lost. So the cancer cell keeps been damaged or lost. So the cancer cell keeps on doubling, regardless of the damage the on doubling, regardless of the damage the extra cells cause to the part of the body where extra cells cause to the part of the body where

the cancer is growingthe cancer is growing . .

Cancer cells do not stick togetherCancer cells do not stick together

Cancer cells can lose the molecules on their Cancer cells can lose the molecules on their surface that keep normal cells in the right surface that keep normal cells in the right place.  So they can become detached place.  So they can become detached

from their neighboursfrom their neighbours . .

This partly explains how cancer cells spread to This partly explains how cancer cells spread to other parts of the bodyother parts of the body

Cancer cells do not become Cancer cells do not become specializedspecialized

Unlike normal cells, cancer cells do not carry on Unlike normal cells, cancer cells do not carry on maturing once they have been made. In fact, maturing once they have been made. In fact, the cells in a cancer can become even less the cells in a cancer can become even less mature over time. With all the reproducing, it mature over time. With all the reproducing, it is not surprising that more of the genetic is not surprising that more of the genetic information in the cell can become lost. So the information in the cell can become lost. So the cells become more and more primitive and cells become more and more primitive and tend to reproduce more quickly and even more tend to reproduce more quickly and even more haphazardlyhaphazardly

GradeGrade The more normal a cancer cell looks, the The more normal a cancer cell looks, the

lower its gradelower its grade The more abnormal or less well developed a The more abnormal or less well developed a

cancer cell is, the higher its grade.cancer cell is, the higher its grade.

We can classification these as low, medium or We can classification these as low, medium or high grade.  or 1, 2, or 3 grade where grade 1 high grade.  or 1, 2, or 3 grade where grade 1 is low grade and grade 3 is high when a low is low grade and grade 3 is high when a low grade cancer is likely to be less aggressive in grade cancer is likely to be less aggressive in its behavior than a high grade one.its behavior than a high grade one.

What causes leukemiaWhat causes leukemia??

is no single known cause for all of the different is no single known cause for all of the different types of leukemia. The different leukemias types of leukemia. The different leukemias likely have different causes, and very little is likely have different causes, and very little is certain about what causes them. Researchers certain about what causes them. Researchers have strong suspicions about four possible have strong suspicions about four possible causescauses::

Natural or artificial ionizing radiation . Natural or artificial ionizing radiation . Certain kinds of chemicals . Certain kinds of chemicals . Some viruses . Some viruses . Genetic presdispositions . Genetic presdispositions .

SymptomsSymptoms

Like all blood cells, leukemia cells travel Like all blood cells, leukemia cells travel through the body. Depending on the through the body. Depending on the number of abnormal cells and where number of abnormal cells and where these cells collect, patients with leukemia these cells collect, patients with leukemia may have a number of symptomsmay have a number of symptoms..

Common symptoms of leukemia may includeCommon symptoms of leukemia may include Fevers or night sweats.Fevers or night sweats. Frequent infectionsFrequent infections Feeling weak or tiredFeeling weak or tired HeadacheHeadache Bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums, Bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums,

purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots under the skin)under the skin)

Pain in the bones or jointsPain in the bones or joints Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen (from Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen (from

an enlarged spleen )an enlarged spleen ) Swollen lymph nodes , especially in the neck Swollen lymph nodes , especially in the neck

or armpitor armpit Decreased appetite and weight loss because Decreased appetite and weight loss because

you feel full and don't want to eatyou feel full and don't want to eat

Types of leukemiaTypes of leukemia

There are various types of bone marrow cells, There are various types of bone marrow cells, various types of leukemia can develop each various types of leukemia can develop each requiring different treatments. The main types requiring different treatments. The main types of leukemia are as follows:of leukemia are as follows:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)(ALL)

this is a cancer of immature lymphocyte cells, this is a cancer of immature lymphocyte cells, known as lymphoblasts. This disease is the known as lymphoblasts. This disease is the most common type of leukemia in young most common type of leukemia in young children, usually between the ages of 1 and 7 children, usually between the ages of 1 and 7 and is quite rare in adults. and is quite rare in adults.

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)

this is a cancer of the immature myeloid cells. this is a cancer of the immature myeloid cells. This disease occurs mainly in adults but can This disease occurs mainly in adults but can also affect children.also affect children.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)(CLL)

this is a cancer of the lymphocyte cells. This this is a cancer of the lymphocyte cells. This disease is the most common type of leukaemia disease is the most common type of leukaemia affecting adults, and is very rare in children.affecting adults, and is very rare in children.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)(CML)

This is a cancer of the neutrophils cells. This This is a cancer of the neutrophils cells. This type of leukemia is rare in children and type of leukemia is rare in children and commonly affects male adults more than commonly affects male adults more than females. females.

How can treatment of leukemiaHow can treatment of leukemia ? ?

Treatment depends on what kind of leukemia Treatment depends on what kind of leukemia you have and how far along it is. Treatment you have and how far along it is. Treatment can range from watchful waiting to a stem cell can range from watchful waiting to a stem cell transplant. Usually it includes chemotherapy transplant. Usually it includes chemotherapy and sometimes radiation treatmentsand sometimes radiation treatments

Living with cancerLiving with cancer

The patient have the cancer cell have change in life The patient have the cancer cell have change in life and relation shipand relation shiplive each dayThink about how you want to spend live each dayThink about how you want to spend your time what is important to you and what is not.  your time what is important to you and what is not.  Some of your future plansSome of your future plans

––Many hospital cancer department have asocial Many hospital cancer department have asocial worker available for patients.  worker available for patients. 

meeting the challenge when the cancer recure meeting the challenge when the cancer recure taking time :support for people with cancer and the taking time :support for people with cancer and the

people who care about thempeople who care about them

Thank Thank youyou

Prepared byPrepared by: : Sarah Al-wosaibaiSarah Al-wosaibai

Ebtisam Al-GeraniEbtisam Al-Gerani

Ayat Al-AbbasAyat Al-Abbas

Fadilah AleoFadilah Aleo

Sukainah Albo hussainSukainah Albo hussain

Muntaha Al-MarhonMuntaha Al-Marhon

Khadejah Al-HajjiKhadejah Al-Hajji