Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is caused by the abnormal production of white blood cells, which can crowd out healthy cells and lead to fatigue, infections, and bleeding.
normal leukemic blood cells
Leukemia is classified into four main types:
- acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL),
- acute myeloid leukemia (AML),
- chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL),
- and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
The treatment and prognosis for leukemia depends on the specific type of the disease and how advanced it is.
1. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is characterized by the rapid production of immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts. ALL is the most common type of childhood leukemia and can also occur in adults.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ALL can include fatigue, weakness, infections, bleeding, and enlarged lymph nodes or other organs.
Diagnosis
is usually made through blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy.
Treatment
for ALL typically involves a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and in some cases stem cell transplantation. The specific treatment plan will depend on a variety of factors including the patient’s age, overall health, and the specific subtype of ALL. Newer targeted therapies are also available that can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy.
The prognosis for ALL varies depending on the patient’s age, overall health, and the specific subtype of the disease, with children tend to have a better prognosis than adults. With current treatment options, many people with ALL can achieve long-term remission, but there may be serious side effects and long-term complications as a result of treatment.
2. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is characterized by the rapid production of immature white blood cells called myeloblasts. AML is more common in older adults, but can also occur in children and young adults.
Symptoms
of AML can include fatigue, weakness, infections, bleeding, and pain or fullness in the abdomen due to an enlarged spleen or liver. Diagnosis is usually made through blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy.
Treatment
for AML typically involves induction chemotherapy, which aims to kill as many cancer cells as possible, consolidation chemotherapy to kill remaining cancer cells, and then maintenance chemotherapy to prevent relapse. Stem cell transplantation is also an option for some patients, especially those who achieve complete remission after induction chemotherapy.
The prognosis for AML varies depending on the patient’s age, overall health, and the specific subtype of the disease, with older adults and those with certain genetic changes tend to have a poorer prognosis than younger patients. With current treatment options, many people with AML can achieve long-term remission, but there may be serious side effects and long-term complications as a result of treatment.
3. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
It is characterized by the accumulation of mature but abnormal white blood cells called lymphocytes in the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic tissue. CLL is a slowly progressing cancer and is more common in older adults.
Symptoms
Symptoms of CLL can include fatigue, weakness, infections, easy bruising or bleeding, and enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, or liver. However, some people with CLL may have no symptoms for months or years.
Diagnosis
of CLL is usually made through blood tests and a physical examination.
Treatment
for CLL can vary depending on the stage of the disease, symptoms, and the patient’s overall health. The watchful waiting approach is an option for patients who have mild symptoms or slow-growing disease and do not need immediate treatment. For others, treatment may include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies or radiation therapy. Stem cell transplantation is also an option for some patients.
The prognosis for CLL varies depending on the patient’s age, overall health, and the specific subtype of the disease. With current treatment options, many people with CLL can live with the disease for many years, but CLL can progress to more advanced stages that can be life-threatening.
4. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
It is characterized by the presence of an abnormal chromosome called the Philadelphia chromosome, which leads to the production of an abnormal protein called BCR-ABL. This protein causes the uncontrolled growth of white blood cells called granulocytes. CML is a slowly progressing cancer and is more common in adults, typically older adults.
Symptoms
Symptoms of CML can include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, night sweats, and pain or fullness in the left upper abdomen due to an enlarged spleen. However, some people with CML may have no symptoms for months or years.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of CML is usually made through blood tests, bone marrow biopsy and examination of the chromosomes within the cells.
Treatment
Treatment for CML is typically started soon after diagnosis, and includes a medication called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), which target the BCR-ABL protein and stop the cancer cells from growing. Stem cell transplantation is also an option for some patients.
The prognosis for CML varies depending on the patient’s age, overall health, and the specific subtype of the disease. With TKI treatment, the majority of patients with CML can achieve and maintain a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), which means the abnormal chromosome is no longer detectable in the blood cells and the risk of progression is greatly reduced. With current treatment options, many people with CML can live for many years, but CML can progress to more advanced stages if left untreated