Conditions & Diseases: Cancers

Leukemia Information

See Also:
Leukemia: Overview
Leukemia: 5 Types & Stages (5 pages)
Leukemia: Causes & Risk Factors
Leukemia: Signs & Symptoms
Leukemia: Medical Tests & Diagnosis
Leukemia: Treatment Options

Overview

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming tissues (such as the bone marrow) characterized by an increased number of abnormal white blood cells.

Normal blood cells are produced by bone marrow. The bone marrow can be found in the center of most bones and produces a type of cell called stem cells. These stem cells are immature cells that develop into three types of mature blood cells.

1. Red blood cells, which carry the oxygen to all the body tissues.

2. White blood cells, which fight against infections.

3. Platelets, which control the bleeding by forming blood clots.

Leukemia occurs when too many stem cells develop into abnormal white blood cells (immature white blood cells) called leukemia cells or blasts. A high number of immature white blood cells affect the normal production of all blood cells (red and white cell, and platelets) causing an impaired blood function. An increased number of cancerous white blood cells cause the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen to enlarge, and the body stops fighting against infections.

See Also:
Leukemia: Overview
Leukemia: 5 Types & Stages (5 pages)
Leukemia: Causes & Risk Factors
Leukemia: Signs & Symptoms
Leukemia: Medical Tests & Diagnosis
Leukemia: Treatment Options

Leukemia is sometimes misspelled as lukemia or luekemia.

Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com