Products & Services: Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition
Products & Services: Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition
Products & Services: Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition
Leukemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and
the lymphatic system.
Many types of leukemia exist. Some forms of leukemia are more common in children.
Other forms of leukemia occur mostly in adults.
Leukemia usually involves the white blood cells. Your white blood cells are potent
infection fighters — they normally grow and divide in an orderly way, as your body
needs them. But in people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces an excessive
amount of abnormal white blood cells, which don't function properly.
Treatment for leukemia can be complex — depending on the type of leukemia and other
factors. But there are strategies and resources that can help make your treatment
successful.
Symptoms
Leukemia symptoms vary, depending on the type of leukemia. Common leukemia signs
and symptoms include:
Fever or chills
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms
that worry you.
Leukemia symptoms are often vague and not specific. You may overlook early leukemia
symptoms because they may resemble symptoms of the flu and other common
illnesses.
Sometimes leukemia is discovered during blood tests for some other condition.
Causes
Lymphatic systemOpen pop-up dialog box
Scientists don't understand the exact causes of leukemia. It seems to develop from a
combination of genetic and environmental factors.
In general, leukemia is thought to occur when some blood cells acquire changes
(mutations) in their genetic material or DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that
tell a cell what to do. Normally, the DNA tells the cell to grow at a set rate and to die at a
set time. In leukemia, the mutations tell the blood cells to continue growing and dividing.
When this happens, blood cell production becomes out of control. Over time, these
abnormal cells can crowd out healthy blood cells in the bone marrow, leading to fewer
healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, causing the signs and symptoms
of leukemia.
Doctors classify leukemia based on its speed of progression and the type of cells
involved.
Acute leukemia. In acute leukemia, the abnormal blood cells are immature
blood cells (blasts). They can't carry out their normal functions, and they multiply
rapidly, so the disease worsens quickly. Acute leukemia requires aggressive,
timely treatment.
Types of leukemia
Other types. Other, rarer types of leukemia exist, including hairy cell leukemia,
myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders.
Risk factors
Factors that may increase your risk of developing some types of leukemia include: