Leukemia: Understanding the Main Forms
Four broad categories with very different prognoses.
Dr. Anne-Sophie Lefèvre
Oncologist
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): mostly in children
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): commoner in adults
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): older adults, often indolent
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): now manageable with targeted therapy
Possible signs
Fatigue, repeated infections, easy bruising or bleeding, bone pain, persistent fever, or unexplained weight loss.
Diagnosis
Complete blood count abnormalities prompt bone marrow biopsy and molecular profiling to define the subtype and guide therapy.
Treatment progress
CML is now a chronic disease thanks to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized refractory ALL.
A persistently abnormal blood count deserves haematology review rather than repeated GP visits.
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