06/10/2026
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow where the body makes abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy cells, as explained by the Cleveland Clinic.
What the Word Means
The word "leukemia" literally translates to "white blood" in Greek. It gets this name because the disease often causes a massive increase in white blood cells in the body.
How Leukemia Works
• Bone Marrow: This is the soft tissue inside your bones where new blood cells are made.
• Abnormal Growth: Genetic changes tell blood cells to keep dividing when they should stop or die.
• Crowding Out: The abnormal cells take up too much space. Healthy red blood cells, normal white blood cells, and platelets cannot grow properly.
Main Types of Leukemia
Doctors sort leukemia into groups based on how fast it grows and which cells it affects:
• Acute Leukemia: This type grows very fast. Immature cells multiply quickly, and the disease gets worse in a short time. It needs fast treatment.
• Chronic Leukemia: This type grows much slower. It involves more mature cells that can function normally for a while. It might not show symptoms for years.
• Lymphocytic Leukemia: This affects the lymphoid cells that build your immune system.
• Myelogenous Leukemia: This affects myeloid cells that turn into red blood cells, other white blood cells, and platelets.
Common Symptoms
Because the body lacks normal blood cells, people with leukemia often notice:
• Extreme tiredness or weakness (anemia)
• Frequent fevers or infections
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Bone pain
• Swollen lymph nodes