Overview

Leukemia is a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and lymphatic system. Normally, white blood cells grow and divide according to the body’s needs; but in people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells that do not function properly.

Leukemia has two types: acute (appearing suddenly) and chronic (developing over a long time). Chronic leukemia rarely occurs in children.

• It usually affects either lymphocytes or granulocytes.
• Cancer of lymphocytes is called lymphocytic leukemia.
• Cancer of granulocytes is called myeloid leukemia.

Risk factors

• Family history of leukemia.
• Smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke increase the risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
• Genetic disorders such as Down syndrome.
• Blood disorders such as myelodysplastic syndrome (“pre-leukemia”).
• Radiation exposure: Prior radiation, cancer chemotherapy, or high-radiation environments.
• Chemical exposure such as benzene (tobacco smoke, coal gas, oil, gasoline, etc.).

Stages of leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) usually does not form tumors and is not staged like other cancers; treatment depends on the subtype, the patient’s age, and other tests.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia has 4 stages (stages 0–2 are considered early):

Stage 0: Lymphocyte count is elevated but there are no specific symptoms.
Stage 1: Lymphocytes elevated; abnormal lymph nodes begin to appear (swollen, movable).
Stage 2: Lymphocytes elevated; enlarged lymph nodes, enlarged liver and spleen.
Stage 3: Elevated lymphocytes affect red blood cell production, leading to anemia.
Stage 4: Lymphocytes elevated; platelets and red blood cells sharply reduced; enlarged lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.

Leukemia screening

Many forms of leukemia have no specific symptoms in the early stages. As with other cancers, early detection improves treatment outcomes and reduces the physical, mental, financial, and time burden. At NURA, our in-depth and comprehensive panel allows early screening to detect the earliest abnormalities of leukemia.