• Chronic leukemia—Early in the disease, the abnormal blood cells can still do their work, and people with chronic leukemia may not have any symptoms. Slowly, chronic leukemia gets worse. It causes symptoms as the number of leukemia cells in the blood rises.
• Acute leukemia—The blood cells are very abnormal. They cannot carry out their normal work. The number of abnormal cells increases rapidly. Acute leukemia worsens quickly.

Source: What You Need to Know about Leukemia - NCI

I understand there are two different types of blood cells that leukemia affects. Can you explain that?
The types of leukemia are also grouped by the type of white blood cell that is affected. Leukemia can arise in lymphoid cells or myeloid cells. Leukemia that affects lymphoid cells is called lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia that affects myeloid cells is called myeloid leukemia or myelogenous leukemia.

What are the different types of acute leukemia?

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL) accounts for about 3,800 new cases of leukemia each year. It is the most common type of leukemia in young children. It also affects adults.
• Acute myeloid leukemia (acute myelogenous leukemia, AML) accounts for about 10,600 new cases of leukemia each year. It occurs in both adults and children.

Source: What You Need to Know about Leukemia - NCI

What are the different types of chronic leukemia?

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, CLL) accounts for about 7,000 new cases of leukemia each year. Most often, people diagnosed with the disease are over age 55. It almost never affects children.
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (chronic myelogenous leukemia, CML) accounts for about 4,400 new cases of leukemia each year. It affects mainly adults.

Hairy cell leukemia is a rare type of chronic leukemia.
What You Need to Know about Leukemia - NCI

I’m often very tired. My doctor tells me it’s because I have anemia. What can you tell me about this?
How Will Chemotherapy Affect My Blood Cell Count - American Cancer Society (ACS)
Fatigue – Oncology Nursing Society
Cancer-Related Fatigue – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Fatigue Treatment Guidelines - ACS
Fatigue - National Cancer Institute

Can you tell me more about blood transfusions?
Blood Transfusion – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

What is neutropenia?
Neutropenia – Oncology Nursing Society

Where is the first place I should look for treatment information?
Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Treatment: NCI/PDQ®
Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Treatment – NCI/PDQ®
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Treatment – NCI/PDQ®
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: Treatment – NCI/PDQ®
Hairy Cell Leukemia: Treatment – NCI/PDQ®

Can you tell me about immunotherapy used to treat leukemia?
Immunotherapy – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Biological Therapies: Using the Immune System To Treat Cancer – NCI

My husband needs to have a stem cell transplant. Can you tell more more about this?
Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Bone Marrow Transplantation and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation: Questions and Answers – NCI

I want to stay up to date on new treatments for leukemia. Any ideas on how to do this?
Leukemia Updates – NCI - Articles and links on clinical trials for leukemia.
Stay Informed – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - Links, articles, and email updates

Do you have a list of websites, books, and other resources on cancer of the leukemias?
Information Finder on Hematological Cancers


Revised 2008

External sites are provided for your convenience only. We are not responsible for the content of the site, nor do we endorse the site.