TYPES OF LEUKEMIA
There are four main categories of leukemia:
- acute
- chronic
- lymphocytic
- myelogenous
- Chronic and acute leukemias:
During its lifespan, a white blood cell goes through several stages.
In acute leukemia, developing cells multiply quickly and collect in the marrow and blood. They exit the bone marrow too early and are not functional.
Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly. It allows for the production of more mature, useful cells.
Acute leukemia overcrowds the healthy blood cells more quickly than chronic leukemia.
- Lymphocytic and myelogenous leukemias:
Doctors classify leukemia according to the type of blood cell they affect.
Lymphocytic leukemia occurs if cancerous changes affect the type of bone marrow that makes lymphocytes. A lymphocyte is a white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system.
Myelogenous leukemia happens when the changes affect bone marrow cells that produce blood cells, rather than the blood cells themselves.
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia:
Children under 5 years old are at the highest risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
However, It can also affect adults, typically over the age of 50 years. Out of every five deaths from ALL, four occur in adults.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia:
This is most common among adults over 55 years, but younger adults can also develop it.
About 25% of adults with leukemia have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is more common in men than in women and rarely affects children.
- Acute myelogenous leukemia:
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is more common in adults than in children, but overall, it is a rare cancer. It develops more often in men than in women.
It develops quickly, and symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing, and pain in the joints. Environmental factors can trigger this type.