Leukemia |
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Conditions and Treatments
Most types of leukemia originate in the bone marrow, which is the spongy tissue inside the bones that produce the various types of blood cells, including:
- White blood cells, which fight infection
- Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the blood
- Platelets, which protect the body against bleeding and bruising
There are four main types of leukemia, which have many subtypes. Leukemia is grouped by how quickly it develops, as well as the type of blood cells it affects. The different forms of leukemia vary greatly in their nature and seriousness and they are classified as either "acute" or "chronic."
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Acute leukemias are more aggressive with severe symptoms and cause major medical problems quickly. Without effective treatment, most patients will die in days to weeks.
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Chronic leukemias develop at a much slower rate. Some do not require treatment for months or years.
Leukemias also are classified as "myeloid" or "lymphoid." This refers to the type of white blood cell that has become cancerous. Myeloid cells give rise to neutrophils, an important type of white blood cell that kills bacteria. Lymphoid cells give rise to lymphocytes, which protect against bacterial germs including viruses.
The most common types of leukemia include:
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007
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