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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 doctor determines your leukemia treatment options based on your age and overall health, the type of leukemia you have, and whether it has spread to other parts of your body, including the central nervous system.
AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. The other type is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, also called ALL. Although AML can be diagnosed at any age, it is less common before age 45.
The term "lymphocytic" in chronic lymphocytic leukemia comes from the cells affected by the disease — a group of white blood cells called lymphocytes, which help your body fight infection. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia most commonly affects older adults.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children, and treatments result in a good chance for a cure. Acute lymphocytic leukemia can also occur in adults, though the chance of a cure is greatly reduced.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is typically a slow-growing cancer that may not require treatment. While some people may refer to this as a "good" type of cancer, it doesn't really make receiving a cancer diagnosis any easier.
Learn about chronic myelogenous leukemia symptoms and causes. Find out how CML is treated, including targeted therapy and bone marrow transplant.
Leukemia is often thought of as a childhood cancer. But while acute lymphocytic leukemia most commonly affects children, most cases of leukemia are diagnosed in older adults. "The average age of diagnosis of acute leukemia is around 70 years of age," says Dr. Foran.
The leukemia cells look "hairy" under a microscope. Hairy cell leukemia cells keep living when healthy cells would die as part of the natural cell life cycle. The leukemia cells build up in the body and cause symptoms.
Tests and procedures used to diagnose acute lymphocytic leukemia include: Blood tests. Blood tests may reveal too many or too few white blood cells, not enough red blood cells, and not enough platelets.