What is Leukemia?
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, which are the tissues that produce blood cells. In leukemia, abnormal white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and they can rapidly multiply and interfere with the production of normal blood cells.
Leukemia can be classified into four main types based on the type of blood cell affected:
1. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): ALL is characterized by the rapid production of immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts in the bone marrow, which do not develop into mature blood cells and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. ALL is the most common type of cancer in children, although it can also occur in adults. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 6,800 new cases of ALL will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022, and most of these cases will be in children. ALL is more common in children under the age of 5, and it is slightly more common in males than in females.
Leukemia can be classified into four main types based on the type of blood cell affected:
1. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): ALL is characterized by the rapid production of immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts in the bone marrow, which do not develop into mature blood cells and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. ALL is the most common type of cancer in children, although it can also occur in adults. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 6,800 new cases of ALL will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022, and most of these cases will be in children. ALL is more common in children under the age of 5, and it is slightly more common in males than in females.
2. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, and it is characterized by the rapid growth and accumulation of immature myeloid cells in the bone marrow. These immature cells, called myeloblasts, do not develop into mature blood cells, and they interfere with the production of normal blood cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults, and it can also occur in children. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 21,450 new cases of AML will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022. AML can occur at any age, but it is most common in older adults, with the average age of diagnosis being in the late 60s. AML is slightly more common in men than in women.
3. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, and it is characterized by the gradual accumulation of abnormal white blood cells called lymphocytes. These lymphocytes do not function properly and interfere with the production of normal blood cells.CLL is the most common type of leukemia in adults, and it usually develops slowly over many years. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 21,250 new cases of CLL will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022. CLL is more common in older adults, with the average age of diagnosis being in the late 60s. CLL is slightly more common in men than in women.
4. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): CML is characterized by the abnormal growth and accumulation of white blood cells called myeloid cells in the bone marrow. These cells do not develop into normal blood cells and interfere with the production of other blood cells. it is associated with a genetic abnormality called the Philadelphia chromosome.
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 9,050 new cases of CML will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022. CML accounts for about 10-15% of all adult leukemias, and it is more common in older adults, with the average age of diagnosis being in the mid-60s.
