Leukemia Summary Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells. White blood cells help your body fight infection. Your blood cells form in your bone marrow. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These cells crowd out the healthy blood cells, making it hard for blood to do its work. There are different types of leukemia, including Acute lymphocytic leukemia Acute myeloid leukemia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Chronic myeloid leukemia Leukemia can develop quickly or slowly. Chronic leukemia grows slowly. In acute leukemia, the cells are very abnormal and their number increases rapidly. Adults can get either type; children with leukemia most often have an acute type. Some leukemias can often be cured. Other types are hard to cure, but you can often control them. Treatments may include chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell transplantation. Even if symptoms disappear, you might need therapy to prevent a relapse. NIH: National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute Statistics and Research A Snapshot of Leukemia National Cancer Institute Cancer Statistics: Leukemia National Cancer Institute Facts and Statistics Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Specifics Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (HTLV-1) Lymphoma Research Foundation General Information About Hairy Cell Leukemia National Cancer Institute Leukemia — Eosinophilic American Society of Clinical Oncology What Is Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society Encyclopedia After chemotherapy – discharge B and T cell screen Bone marrow biopsy Bone marrow transplant – discharge Bone-marrow transplant – slideshow Cryoglobulins Fibrinopeptide A blood test T-cell count Find an Expert American Cancer Society American Cancer Society Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Leukemia & Lymphoma Society National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute NCI Designated Cancer Centers National Cancer Institute Array B-cell leukemia/lymphoma panel Bone marrow transplant Hairy cell leukemia Leukemia Treatments and Therapies Blood Transfusion Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Choosing a Blood Cancer Specialist Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Treatment National Cancer Institute Drugs Approved for Leukemia National Cancer Institute General Approach to Treatment of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia American Cancer Society Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment Option Overview National Cancer Institute Immunotherapy Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Integrative Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Therapies Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MedlinePlus: Bone Marrow Transplantation National Library of Medicine Myelodysplastic/ Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Treatment National Cancer Institute Understanding Side Effects of Drug Therapy Leukemia & Lymphoma Society NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Cancer Strikes Out!/Definitions/ Glossary/ Common Types Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Leukemia National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Leukemia, Hairy Cell National Institutes of Health Types of Treatment: Clinical Trials Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Genetics Do We Know What Causes Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society Related Issues Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer National Cancer Institute Diagnosis and Tests How Is Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Diagnosed? American Cancer Society Lab and Imaging Tests Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MedlinePlus: Blood Count Tests National Library of Medicine What Are Bone Marrow Tests? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Start Here Leukemia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Understanding Leukemia Leukemia & Lymphoma Society What You Need to Know about Leukemia National Cancer Institute Seniors Leukemia National Cancer Institute Journal Articles Leukemia Patient Handouts Understanding Chemotherapy National Cancer Institute What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy National Cancer Institute
