LEUKAEMIA

Overview

Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood cells which are made in the bone marrow. There are several types of leukaemia, grouped as acute or chronic.

• Gender and age may affect the risk of developing certain types of leukaemia.
• Possible signs of leukaemia include tiredness, fever, easy bleeding or bruising.
• Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow are used to detect and diagnose leukaemia.
• Certain factors affect treatment options and prognosis (chance of recovery).

Types of leukaemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell), red blood cells, or platelets.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes.

Chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) is a disease in which the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells.

Hairy cell leukaemia is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes.