Quick facts about leukaemia
Leukaemia develops when white blood cells, which reside in our bone marrow (the soft tissue inside our bones), grow abnormally
Around 5000 men and women will be diagnosed with leukaemia in Australia each year
1 in 61 Australians will be diagnosed with leukaemia by the age of 85
Leukaemia is classified based on whether it is acute or chronic. Acute leukaemia develops and progresses rapidly, while chronic leukaemia appears gradually and grows slowly over months to years
Types of leukaemia
There are four main types of leukaemia, depending on the type of white blood cell that is affected (either myeloid or lymphoid) and whether the cancer is fast growing (acute) or relatively slow growing (chronic):
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
ALL develops from immature lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. ALL progresses quickly and most commonly occurs in children under the age of four.
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Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
AML develops from immature white blood cells called myeloblasts. It is the most common form of acute leukaemia in adults.
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Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
CLL develops from abnormal white blood cells known as lymphocytes and is often very slow growing.
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Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
CML develops from a type of myeloid cell called granulocytes. It typically grows slowly in the early phases but can transform into acute leukaemia.
Learn moreTreatment for leukaemia
There are many different types of treatment for leukaemia. Your treatment will depend on you and your cancer.
Helpful resources
References
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