Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia--also known as CMML--is a type of myelodysplastic-myeloproliferative disorder, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The incidence of this disease is estimated to be three cases per every 100,000 people older than 60...
Arthritis is a general term that describes over 100 conditions. If you think you have arthritis it is important to see your doctor to be properly diagnosed. Different types of arthritis call for different treatment programs. Two of the more common...
The technical term for low blood count is myelosuppression and it simply means blood levels are being suppressed. It can be caused by numerous factors, including treatments for cancer that directly affect bone marrow. Bone marrow is responsible...
When you have a low white blood cell count, it generally means that the number of white blood cells has dipped to less than 3,500 per microliter of blood, which is one-millionth of a liter. This decline in white blood cells can be a result of many...
Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer are undergoing continuous review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. New medications are approved each year to battle various types of cancers. Chemo drugs were once exclusively injectable, but more...
Colon cancer develops when any of the cell types within the colon develop genetic mutations that allow the cells to proliferate out of control and form tumors. The National Cancer Institute states that cancer of the colon or rectum accounted for...
Cytoxan, the trade name for the generic drug cyclophosphamide, is a chemotherapy drug used to kill cancer cells. It can be given intravenously, intramuscularly or orally via pill. It can be used to treat various cancers, including breast cancer,...
White blood cells, or WBCs, are the body's main mechanisms for fighting off sickness. A low white blood cell count means very few of these cells, also called leukocytes, are circulating through the blood. When a child's immune system is...
Chemotherapy, the delivery of chemical agents, targets rapidly dividing cells and is, therefore, effective in treating cancer. These drugs interfere with normal cell growth and division, resulting in cell death. Because chemotherapy is...
Getting enough vitamin B12 is key to maintaining your body's ability to produce enough blood. While a B12 deficiency can lead to a type of anemia, a blood disease that affects your red blood cells, the vitamin is not generally associated with...
As an adult, your body needs between 8 mg and 18 mg of iron each day to stay healthy, the Office of Dietary Supplements reports. An iron deficiency -- also called iron-deficiency anemia -- may occur due to normal changes in your body, stomach...
White blood cells are the body cells that are responsible for fighting infectious agents. They circulate at low levels in the blood stream, and rapidly appear when a foreign invader is detected. The breakdown of types of white blood cells depends...
Vitamin B12 is the largest vitamin in the body. It is used predominantly for DNA metabolism. Deficiency causes problems, including damage to nerves and blood cells. The damage results in symptoms that must be treated to halt the progression of...
A low blood cell count can refer to three different components in your blood. According to MayoClinic.com, when doctors check your blood cell count they look for white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. All have different jobs in...
Having a low white blood cell count means your blood contains too few disease-fighting cells, according to MayoClinic.com. Your count may be low if you have a health problem that damages your bone marrow, you take certain drugs, you have a severe...
Colon cancer is one of the major cause of cancer death in the United States. Every year, roughly 100,000 new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed, according to the National Cancer Institute in 2009. Colon cancer can develop in patients for years...
Hemoglobin, which is an important part of red blood cells, carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. MedlinePlus says normal hemoglobin levels are between 13.8 to 17.2 g/dL for men and 12.1 to 15.1 g/dL for women. Hemoglobin levels...
Leukopenia, also known as a low white blood cell count, is a medical condition that can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system. Because low white blood cell count can increase susceptibility to infections, it is important to find and...
The body uses iron for several important functions. Iron metabolism helps to protect against infection. Iron is also used for oxygen transport, DNA synthesis and a process called electron transport, which helps to make energy-containing compounds....
Vitamins are divided into two classes, lipid soluble vitamins, including A, D, E and K, and the water soluble vitamins, including the B complex. Vitamins typically are either cofactors or antioxidants, and sometimes, both. A cofactor helps an...
What causes a high heart rate, or tachycardia can be many things. Tachycardia is identified by how fast the heart is beating and by how the heart rhythm looks on an electrocardiogram. A regular heart rhythm over 100 beats per minute is called...
Anemia means a low red blood cell count. Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, are normally made in the bone marrow in adults and largely function to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Low red blood cell counts can cause such...
Chronic kidney disease is caused by a variety factors but is a preventable disease. In this video learn more about its various forms and how it can be prevented and treated.
