There are over a dozen different types of leukemia. They are classified according to how fast it worsens and the kind of WBCs it affects. It can either be acute or chronic. The acute and chronic types can also be either myelogenous or lymphocytic. The symptoms are the same but leukemia symptoms for the acute type are immediate and can make you feel sick right away.
The 2 major types are . . .
1. Acute
It is characterized by blood-forming cells that are immature. These immature cells reproduce and accumulate very rapidly.
Urgent treatment is required for acute leukemia because they worsen very fast. The acute type can ravage your body within a few weeks or months. Nose bleeding is one of the warning signs of leukemia.
2. Chronic
It is characterized by blood-forming cells that are mature but are still damaged or abnormal.
The chronic type grows slowly and may not cause symptoms for years. It also affects older people more often.
Different leukemic types are also classified based on the white blood cells that are reproducing out of control. Acute and chronic leukemic cells can either be . . .
a) Myelogeneous
If it's myelogenous, the abnormal white blood cells are either the bacteria-killing cells called granulocytes or the macrophage-forming cells known as monocytes.
b) Lymphocytic or lymphoblastic
If it's lymphocytic or lymphoblastic, the abnormal white blood cells are the bone marrow lymphocytes.
What are the most common types of leukemia cells?
Among the over a dozen different types of leukemia, the most common types include only four. They are . . .
1) Acute Lymphoblastic or ALL
ALL leukemia is most common in children. It can also affect adults but only rarely. It often happens to children aged 15 years old or younger.
Acute leukemic cells develop in the bone marrow, the thymus and the lymph nodes.
2) Acute Myelogenous or AML
AML develops in both children and adults but most often affects adults. Most patients with acute myelogenous are 65 years or older.
It starts with abnormalities in the granulocytes. These white blood cells stay immature and because of their acute nature, they multiply too fast in the blood and bone marrow.
As the abnormal WBCs accumulate, they hinder the body's ability to fight infection and control bleeding.
3) Chronic Lymphocytic or CLL
The CLL type is the most common in adults, especially those who are 60 or older and is rare among children.
Chronic lymphocytic affects more men than women and is the most common type in North America and Europe.
