Leukemia cancer is classified into four types. The categories of leukemia cancer depends upon many complicated factors. This article explains that what is leukemia and how it is grouped into sub-categories. Here we will only have high level idea behind different categories.
Leukemia is usually caused by irregular production of immature blood cells. The abnormal cells are developed at massive speed and with the passage of time, these abnormal cells crowd out most of the normal blood cells in the body. Lack of white cells, red blood cells and platelets causes various complications and damage to body and may turn to be fatal for body health.
All type of blood cells including red, white cells and platelets in bone marrow are produced from stem cells. There are two main types of stem cells including Lymphoid and Myeloid cells. Myeloid cells are fundamental type of red cells and platelets. Myeloid cells are developed into red blood cells and platelets. White blood cells can be categorized into many sub types like T-cells, NK-cells and B-cells. Few types of white cells are produced by myeloid source and other are produced from lymphoid linage. The cancer which gets developed due to white cells produced from myeloid source is known as myelogenous leukemia cancer. Myelogenous leukemia caused by lymphoid cells is also termed as lymphocytic leukemia.
Irregularity in cells is found in two stages. The stages are acute and chronic. If the cells development is at very initial stage and cells are less mature, the cancer is said acute leukemia. And if the cells are developed to some more extend but still immature then the caused leukemia is chronic leukemia. Including this factors leukemia has following four types.
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
All these types similar type of leukemia symptoms. Of the four types, Acute lymphocytic leukemia is mostly common in children while other three types are mostly seen in adult.
