The leukemia diseases are cancers formed within the blood and bone, specifically in the white blood cells, either the “lymphoid” or “myeloid” cells. Leukemia is categorized by which of these blood cells is affected, and how quickly the disease progresses.

Leukemia types are either acute or fast-growing and chronic or slow-growing, as such:

1. Acute myeloid leukemia
Leukemia that is acute, is the result of immature and non-active blood cells in the marrow of the bone, which is known as acute myeloid leukemia. With this type, the cells reproduce and build up in the bone marrow impacting the production of healthy blood cells. Acute myeloid leukemia (or AML), is the more common form in adult patients. AML can develop in children, though it is considered rare. However, this form grows very fast and is also referred to as acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

2. Chronic myeloid leukemia
Chronic myeloid (myelogenous) leukemia is referred to be a genetic abnormality. The chronic myeloid leukemia cancer occurs more in adults, but there are a few cases where children are affected. This cancer forms in the blood cells of the bone marrow. Chronic myeloid leukemia (or CML) goes through phases, and in time begins to spread via the blood system and then onto other parts of the body. Chronic leukemia progresses a lot more slowly, Leukemia that is chronic results in the accumulation of mature, but abnormal, white blood cells.

3. Acute lymphocytic leukemia
Acute lymphocytic or lymphoblastic leukemia is the more common type of the disease that develops in children around the world. It too begins in the body’s bone marrow and quickly spread into the body’s blood system. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) quickly replaces the body’s healthy cells with leukemia cells. The acute lymphocytic leukemia cells progress in the bloodstream carrying the disease to tissues, organs, liver, lymph nodes, testes, and the brain. It doesn’t stop there, it continues to divide and grow.

4. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a slowly progressive disease that gets worse over time. The lymphocytes cells begin in the bone marrow and then extends into the blood. It is more common in adults, especially in the age group of those who are aged 70+ years. Individuals who are age 40 and below have also developed chronic lymphocytic leukemia. CLL spreads into the body’s organs, lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. Its growth is so abnormal that the body finds it hard to fight its infectious state because it crowds out normal blood cells. A sub cancer of chronic lymphocytic leukemia is known as hairy cell leukemia, which develops when the bone marrow creates too many lymphocytes or white blood cells that are created to fight infections. As Hairy cells grow, it crowds out healthy white and red blood cells, as well as healthy platelets.