Medical Brief for Beatrice Foods Inc.

Medical Brief for Beatrice Foods Inc.

Leukemia is a cancerous ailment characterized by the unwarranted, excessive synthesis of abnormal leukocytes (white blood cells) that take the place of red blood cells and platelets which consequently causes blood-clotting. Leukemia is divided into two major categories: lymphocytic or myelocytic (Encarta, 2006).

Jimmy Anderson was diagnosed with Lymphocytic Leukemia; more specifically, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) (Harr, 1996). The causes of such a condition are, for the most part, unknown (Encarta, 2006). Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is characterized by a vast number of immature white blood cells that pursue the blood, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and other organs. Because the cells are immature, they their ability to develop and perform their functions; and because they produce so rapidly, they replace the already existing normal cells (MedlinePlus, 2006). Most cases of ALL occur in children; It’s no surprise the Andersons’ son was afflicted; and the fact of the matter is that the cases were in very young children. The peak incidence period for the cancer is between the ages of 3 and 7. In fact, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is so prominent amongst children that 80% of those suffering from acute leukemias are under the age of ten (Encarta, 2006, Health System, 2006).

Symptoms of the ailment, many of which were evident in young Mr. Anderson and the other Woburn children, include: immense bleeding, sudden bruising, fatigue or weakness, fever, various aches, paleness, swollen or bleeding gums, bone tenderness, skin lesion or rash, and enlarged or swollen lymph nodes (Encarta, 2006, Harr, 1996, Health System, 2006, MedlinePlus, 2006).

As mentioned before, the underlying causes behind Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia are unknown. The only evidence known to demonstrate a correlation between radiation and leukemia was the increased rate of leukemia among the Japanese survivors of the atomic bomb over Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Even then, however, there is no official documentation that leukemia is in fact caused by radiation (Encarta, 2006).

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