Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the body’s blood-producing tissues. This includes the bone marrow and lymphatic system. In leukemia, the body produces an abnormally large volume of malignant leucocytes, which are also called white blood cells (WBCs). This lowers the body’s immunity and exposes you to a number of infections.

Leukemia commonly affects people above the age of 50. However, statistics show that it is also the most common form of cancer among children below the age of 15. The common symptoms of leukemia include the following:

• Pain in the joints
• Low immunity and increased infections
• Easy bruising and bleeding
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Red spots on the skin
• Mouth ulcers

Causes of leukemia
Like with all other cancers, leukemia is caused due to mutations in the DNA. Some of the factors which increase a person’s risk of developing this form of blood cancer are:

• A family history of cancer
• Smoking
• Infection from viruses such as HIV and human T-lymphotropic virus
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy which are used to treat different types of cancer
• Genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome

Types of leukemia
There are four main types of leukemia, each of which is discussed in brief below:

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
  The most common type of leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a fast-growing cancer of the blood. This cancer is marked by the rapid production of immature WBCs called blasts in the body. As these cells are immature, they are unable to ward off infection and they also inhibit the function of normal, healthy WBCs. The early symptoms often go undetected as they are similar to that of flu and include fever, joint pain, easy bruising, swelling of the gums, anemia, and shortness of breath.
• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
  Chronic myeloid leukemia is a slow-growing type of cancer, marked by an unregulated growth of myeloid cells in the bone marrow. These cells then infiltrate the bloodstream and spread through the body. The early stages barely reflect any outward symptoms except an occasional tummy ache or weight loss. This type of cancer is often detected during a random or routine blood test, which reveals an excessively high number of WBCs in the body.
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
  This type of cancer affects the lymphoid blood cells and causes them to multiply while they are still immature. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a rapidly growing cancer and may even turn fatal within a few months if left undetected. Some of the early warning signs include pale skin, fever, easy bruising and bleeding, bone and joint pain, and noticeably large lymph nodes. Medical research shows that having Down Syndrome puts a person in a high-risk bracket for developing ALL.
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
  Chronic lymphocytic leukemia affects the lymphoid cells in the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer grows slowly and may often go undetected for years during which it spreads throughout the body. In particular, it affects the lymph nodes in the liver and the spleen. The immature lymphocyte cells crowd in the blood and hamper the normal functioning of healthy blood cells. Its symptoms include swelling of the spleen, swelling of lymph nodes, noticeable weight loss, and fever.

Treatment of leukemia
Leukemia is diagnosed through blood tests, physical examination to check an enlarged spleen, and bone marrow biopsy from the hip. The treatment for leukemia varies based on the type of leukemia, stage of progression, and any other underlying illnesses. A typical treatment involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and in some cases, stem cell transplant.