The word "leukemic" can be spelled in two ways: with a "k" or a "c". The reason for this difference is due to the influence of Greek and Latin in the spelling of medical terms. The Greek word for "white" is "leukos", while in Latin it is "leuc". The "k" in the spelling of "leukemic" represents the Greek influence. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /luːˈkiːmɪk/, indicating the long "u" sound, stress on the second syllable, and the hard "k" sound at the end.
Leukemic is an adjective that refers to a condition or characteristic related to leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. This term specifically describes something that is related to or indicative of leukemia in an individual or situation.
Leukemia is a malignant disease that arises from abnormal production of white blood cells in the bone marrow, leading to an overproduction of these cells. Leukemic cells, also known as leukemic blasts, are immature and dysfunctional white blood cells that are unable to carry out their normal functions, such as combating infections and diseases. They multiply rapidly, crowding out normal cells and impairing the production of healthy blood cells, including red blood cells and platelets.
When referring to someone as leukemic, it means they are diagnosed with or affected by leukemia. They may exhibit symptoms such as fatigue, recurrent infections, anemia, and abnormal bleeding. Leukemic individuals often require intensive medical treatment, such as chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation, to suppress the overproduction of leukemic cells and promote the growth of healthy blood cells.
Furthermore, the term leukemic can also be used to describe laboratory results or findings. For instance, leukemic cells may be detected through a blood test or bone marrow biopsy. An abnormal increase in immature white blood cells, known as leukemia cells, in these samples would be considered leukemic, indicating the possible presence of leukemia.
The word "leukemic" is derived from the medical term "leukemia". "Leukemia" itself has its origins in the Greek words "leukos" (λευκός), meaning "white", and "haima" (αἷμα), meaning "blood". The term was coined by the German pathologist Rudolf Virchow in 1845, who used it to describe a condition characterized by an excessive number of white blood cells. Over time, the term "leukemia" has been modified to form different adjectives, such as "leukemic" or "leukaemic", which refers to something related to or affected by leukemia.