A group of cancers arising from blood-forming cells, usually involving abnormal production and accumulation of blood cells or their precursors in the bone marrow and blood.
Leukemias are classified according to the type of blood-forming cell involved and how rapidly the disease develops. Major categories include acute and chronic leukemias, as well as lymphoid and myeloid types.
Abnormal cells can interfere with normal blood-cell production, potentially causing anemia, increased infection risk, bleeding, or other problems.
QUICK FACT
Leukemia primarily involves blood-forming tissues such as the bone marrow; it is not simply “cancer of the blood.”
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Lymphoma: cancer of lymphoid cells that typically forms masses or involves lymphoid tissues, although there can be overlap between some diseases.
- Anemia: a condition involving insufficient hemoglobin or red blood cells; it can occur as a consequence of leukemia but is not leukemia itself.
SEE ALSO
- Cancer
- Bone Marrow
- Lymphocyte
- Anemia
- Oncology