Leukemia represents 3.5% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.

There are different types³  of leukemia, including

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia⁴ 

In acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, there are too many specific types of white blood cells called lymphocytes or lymphoblasts. ALL is the most common type of cancer in children.

Possible risk factors for ALL include being male, being white, previous chemotherapy treatment, exposure to radiation, and for adults, being older than 70.

Symptoms of ALL include:

1. Weakness or feeling tired
2. Fever
3. Easy bruising or bleeding
4. Bleeding under the skin
5. Shortness of breath
6. Weight loss or loss of appetite
7. Pain in the bones or stomach
8. Pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs
9. Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin

• Acute myeloid leukemia⁵ 

AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated. Possible risk factors include smoking, previous chemotherapy treatment, and exposure to radiation.

Symptoms of AML include:

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Bleeding under the skin
• Weakness or feeling tired
• Weight loss or loss of appetite

Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow diagnose AML. Treatments include chemotherapy, other drugs, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants, and targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells. Once the leukemia is in remission, you need additional treatment to make sure that it does not come back.

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia⁶ 

In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These cells crowd out the healthy blood cells, making it hard for blood to do its work. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia⁷  (CLL), there are too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

CLL is the second most common type of leukemia in adults. It often occurs during or after middle age and is rare in children.

Usually, CLL does not cause any symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may include

• Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin
• Fatigue
• Pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs
• Fever and infection
• Weight loss

Tests that examine the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes diagnose CLL. Your doctor may choose to monitor you until symptoms appear or change. Treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery to remove the spleen, and targeted therapy.

• Chronic myeloid leukemia⁷ 

White blood cells help your body fight infection. Your blood cells form in your bone marrow. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These cells crowd out the healthy blood cells, making it hard for blood to do its work. In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), there are too many granulocytes, a type of white blood cell.

Most people with CML have a gene mutation (change) called the Philadelphia chromosome.

Sometimes CML does not cause any symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may include:

• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Night Sweats
• Fever
• Pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs on the left side

Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow diagnose CML. Treatments include chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, infusion of donated white blood cells following stem cell transplants, surgery to remove the spleen, and biologic and targeted therapies. Biologic therapy boosts your body’s own ability to fight cancer.

Leukemia can develop quickly or slowly. Chronic leukemia grows slowly. In acute leukemia, the cells are very abnormal, and their number increases rapidly. Adults can get either type; children with leukemia most often have an acute type. Some leukemias can often be cured. Other types are hard to cure, but you can often control them. Treatments may include chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell transplantation. Even if symptoms disappear, you might need therapy to prevent a relapse.

Jay Harold hopes you enjoyed this post, “Leukemia: 4 Types & Risk Factors”.  Please Share it and read more about Jay Harold here.  Please take this advice from  Muhammad Ali and give back to others. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”