Explore this Section. What is Leukemia? What Causes Leukemia? Types of Leukemia The four most common types of leukemia are: Acute lymphocytic leukemia Acute myeloid leukemia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Chronic myeloid leukemia Acute lymphocytic lymphoblastic leukemia ALL ALL is more common in children. ALL can affect the bone marrow all over the body.
It can also spread to the: Lymph nodes Liver Spleen Doctors further sub-classify ALL based on the variety and developmental stage of the lymphocyte involved. Blood stem cells in the bone marrow form into either: Lymphoid cells, which become white blood cells. Myeloid cells, which can become red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. More subtypes of CLL exist that affect other types of cells.
Chronic myeloid leukemia CML This type of leukemia is rare. Adults are more likely than children to get CML. A subtype of CML can form very quickly. This type is hard to treat. Hairy cell leukemia A rare type called hairy cell leukemia HCL — because of how it looks under a microscope — affects fewer than 6, people each year.
HCL grows slowly. Some people live with the disease for many years before symptoms appear. Leukemia Prognosis Prognosis — or chance of recovering from leukemia — depends on many factors.
A lower white blood cell count at the time of diagnosis is predictive of a better outcome. Leukemia Risk Factors Common risk factors for leukemia include: Benzene exposure — benzene is a carcinogen that often makes up other chemicals, such as plastics and rubbers.
People who work in industries that use benzene may be at increased risk. Radiation exposure — people exposed to high levels of radiation from treatment for other cancers or from nuclear weapons are at increased risk. Smoking — smoking increases leukemia risk. How is Leukemia Diagnosed? Acute lymphocytic or lymphoblastic leukemia is sometimes called ALL. It starts in the bone marrow where blood cells are made.
It is more common in children than in adults. Acute myeloid leukemia is also called acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, or sometimes just AML. It is most common in older people. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia CLL is a type of cancer that starts from white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow.
CLL mainly affects older adults, and accounts for about one-third of all leukemias. Around half of CML cases are diagnosed by a blood test before symptoms have begun. Among the many different types of leukemia, some are less common than others. Three rarer leukemia types—prolymphocytic leukemia PLL , large granular lymphocyte leukemia LGL and hairy cell leukemia HCL —share some of the same characteristics as lymphocytic leukemias and are sometimes considered subtypes of chronic or acute lymphocytic leukemia CLL and ALL.
Myelodysplastic syndromes are conditions related to leukemia that are also rare. If it causes symptoms, they may be similar to other types of leukemia flu-like symptoms, easy bruising, unexplained weight loss. Diagnosis may include blood tests as well as bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. However, relapse is common. Large granular lymphocytic LGL leukemia is a chronic type of leukemia that causes the body to produce abnormally large lymphocytes.
By the time patients are diagnosed with this condition, symptoms tend to be present and include flu-like symptoms, frequent infections and unexplained weight loss. People with autoimmune diseases tend to be more at risk for developing LGL. Diagnosis may include blood tests and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.
Most patients require treatment shortly after diagnosis, which may include drugs that suppress the immune system. Others may be able to hold off on treatment to see whether problems arise. HCL is caused when bone marrow makes too many B cells lymphocytes , a type of white blood cell that fights infection. As the number of leukemia cells increases, fewer healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets are produced. Under a microscope, HCL cells appear to have thin, hair-like outgrowths.
Symptoms of HCL may be similar to other types of leukemia and resemble the flu. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy and blood tests are the primary diagnostic tools.
These small samples can identify the type of leukemia and its growth rate. Biopsies of other organs, such as the liver and spleen, can show if the cancer has spread. Once leukemia is diagnosed, it will be staged.
Staging finds out how much the cancer has spread and progressed, and it helps a doctor determine your outlook. AML and ALL are staged based on how cancer cells look under a microscope and the type of cells involved. The presence of immature white blood cells, or myeloblasts, in the blood and bone marrow is also used to stage AML and CML. A number of other tests can be used to determine the progression of the disease:.
The long-term outlook for people who have leukemia depends on the type of cancer they have and their stage at diagnosis. Some factors, like older age, past history of blood disorders, and chromosome mutations, can negatively affect the outlook. According to the NCI, the number of leukemia deaths has been falling on average 1.
The 5-year survival rate or percent of people surviving at least 5 years after receiving a diagnosis was 65 percent from to Work with your medical team to treat leukemia and find out your specific outlook. Read this article in Spanish. White blood cells, or WBCs, are an important part of your immune system. They help fight infections by attacking bacteria, viruses, and germs.
Here's what you need to know about the link between leukemia and anemia. Blood cell disorders impair the formation and function of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Learn about the common symptoms of leukemia in children. These are the best leukemia blogs of the year. They are making a difference in spreading education and compassion. Learn more about the tests that are used to diagnose leukemia, what to expect, and the many options you have even if you do not currently have….
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