There are multiple different types of leukemia, but the four most common are Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), and Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukemia (CLL).
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Many patients with AML need treatment as soon as possible and in some cases AML can be cured with regular therapies. This type of leukemia mostly affects cells that aren't developed, so that they are unable to perform their functions; a reason why treatment is needed as soon as possible.
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Many patients with CML are treated with daily oral drug therapy. This type of leukemia has three different phases, and it is normally diagnosed in its early stages when symptoms aren't as noticeable. In the first stage, the chronic stage, white blood cells can still fight infection and are treated with long-tern drug therapy. Very few individuals advance to the next phase, the accelerated phase. Within this phase, your blood may have a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells, along with a lower number of platelets. You may also experience a swollen spleen. In the next phase, the blast crises phase, you have a high number of blast cells (infected cells) in your bone marrow and blood. You may experience infection, bleeding, tiredness, stomach pain, shortness of breath, or bone pain. Once a patient has reached this phase it is life threatening.
This type of leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children ages one to seven, and it affects the blood cells and the immune system. There are subtypes of ALL and the treatment a person receives depends on the subtype that he or she has. It spreads rapidly without treatment, so it is important to start treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis; most children with the disease are curable with treatment.
CLL is the most common type of leukemia in adults, but in some people the disease spreads faster while in others it spreads slower. In people with slow-spreading CLL, the best treatment may be watchful waiting. Many patients with this type of leukemia live good-quality lives for a long time with medical treatment.
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
This type of leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children ages one to seven, and it affects the blood cells and the immune system. There are subtypes of ALL and the treatment a person receives depends on the subtype that he or she has. It spreads rapidly without treatment, so it is important to start treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis; most children with the disease are curable with treatment.
- Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukemia (CLL)
CLL is the most common type of leukemia in adults, but in some people the disease spreads faster while in others it spreads slower. In people with slow-spreading CLL, the best treatment may be watchful waiting. Many patients with this type of leukemia live good-quality lives for a long time with medical treatment.
More Information:
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
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