Leukemia

At Advocate Health Care, our board-certified oncologists regularly see new patients with leukemia, so they understand the disease well and apply their depth of experience to provide the best care for each person. With access to research studies and new treatment opportunities for patients, Advocate is on the front lines of the race to cure this complex disease.

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What is leukemia?

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. It's the most common cancer among children and teens, accounting for over 30% of cancers diagnosed in young people under 18.

Leukemia starts in white blood cells which normally help fight infections. When you have leukemia, your body makes too many white blood cells. Leukemia cells don’t usually form tumors, but they can travel in the blood and reach almost any organ, causing different problems depending on which organs are involved.

Each type of leukemia has specific symptoms that are unique. But there are patterns of leukemia symptoms that appear in nearly all leukemia that include:

• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Rash occurring as red spots on skin from burst blood vessels (petechiae)
• Fatigue
• Excessive sweating (especially at night) or fever
• Uncontrolled weight loss

What causes leukemia?

Although the cause of leukemia isn’t known, there are some factors that increase your risk of getting it:

• Previous radiation treatment or chemotherapy for other cancers
• Genetic disorders like Down syndrome
• Other blood cancers
• Smoking
• Repeated exposure to benzene (found in cigarette smoke)
• Family history of leukemia
• Exposure to high levels of radiation

Types of leukemia

Leukemia is divided into two major types: acute and chronic. Types of leukemia are also divided by the type of cell they affect – white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets. Your symptoms may also vary depending on the type of leukemia. Some common types of leukemia and their subtypes are:

Acute leukemia

Acute leukemia usually progresses quickly. There are two main types:

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) occurs when the body produces a large number of immature lymphocytes. The cancer cells grow quickly and replace normal cells in the bone marrow. ALL prevents healthy blood cells from being made. Life-threatening symptoms can occur.
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is cancer that starts inside bone marrow – the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. AML grows from myeloid cells that would normally turn into white blood cells.

Chronic leukemia

Chronic leukemia usually progresses slowly. There are two main types:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is cancer of a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Cancer cells spread through the blood and bone marrow. CLL can also affect the lymph nodes or other organs such as the liver and spleen. It can eventually cause bone marrow to lose its function.
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is cancer that starts inside bone marrow. CML causes an uncontrolled growth of immature cells that make a certain type of white blood cell called myeloid cells. The diseased cells build up in the bone marrow and blood.
• Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is caused by the abnormal growth of B cells. The cells look hairy under the microscope because they have fine projections coming from their surface. HCL usually leads to low numbers of normal blood cells.

Prognosis for leukemia

The prognosis and survival rate for leukemia depend on a number of factors. The type of leukemia, white blood cell counts at the time of diagnosis, and your age and general health are all factors that can affect your leukemia diagnosis.

Leukemia diagnosis & treatment

Physicians at Advocate Health Care use a number of tests to screen children and young adults at high risk or those showing leukemia symptoms or suspected of having leukemia. Learn more about leukemia diagnosis.

Patients with leukemia benefit from the synthesis of complex diagnostics, leading-edge treatment options, experienced hematology-oncology specialists and a team committed to providing compassionate and effective care. Our dedication to clinical trials and research brings you the very latest leukemia treatment options in bone marrow transplants and CAR T-cell therapy. Learn more about treatment for leukemia.