Leukemia

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)

Acute lymphocytic leukemia—also known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute lymphoid leukemia—affects a type of white blood cell in your immune system called lymphocytes. It develops in the bone marrow and blood and can be aggressive if not treated early.

Risk factors for acute lymphocytic leukemia

ALL is the most common type of leukemia found in children, but it can develop in adults too. There is no known cause for ALL, but certain factors may increase your risk:

• Previous exposure to chemotherapy and radiation
• Certain genetic disorders
• Being a child or adolescent
• Older than 70
• Being male
• Race and ethnicity (more commonly found in white and Hispanic people)

Acute lymphocytic  leukemia symptoms

There are several subtypes of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Some people may not show any symptoms, while others may experience some combination of:

• Dizziness and fatigue
• Shortness of breath  
• Appearing pale
• Frequent infections
• Fevers
• Bruising easily
• Abnormal bleeding 
• Night sweats
• Pain in the bones or joints
• Discomfort in the abdomen
• Weight loss or decreased appetite
• Wheezing, coughing or painful breathing 

These ALL symptoms and risk factors could be present due to other illnesses not related to blood cancer, so see your doctor about your concerns.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Acute myeloid leukemia is a type of leukemia that starts in the bone marrow in myeloid cells. The term acute means this type of leukemia spreads more rapidly than other types of leukemia. When these abnormal cells start to multiply rapidly and spread in the blood, they can make it harder for normal, healthy blood cells to work.

Acute myeloid leukemia risk factors

There is no known cause for AML, but certain factors may increase your risk:

• Exposure to certain chemicals
• Aging
• Being male
• Smoking
• Previous cancer treatment, including radiation
• Other blood cancers
• Genetic disorders
• Familial risk/Germline predisposition

Acute myeloid leukemia symptoms

Some people may not show any AML symptoms, while others may experience:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
• Headaches
• Frequent infections
• Fever
• Easily bruise
• Prolonged bleeding
• Frequent or severe nosebleeds
• Bleeding gums
• Unexplained weight loss
• Discomfort in bones or joints
• Abdomen swelling

These acute myeloid leukemia symptoms and risk factors could be present due to other illnesses not related to blood cancer, so see your cancer doctor about your concerns.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia occurs in lymphocytes, white blood cells that help your body fight infections. With CLL, these cancerous lymphocytes don’t work as they should. CLL can progress either slowly or quickly depending on the form it takes, and it is the most common kind of leukemia diagnosed in adults.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia risk factors

There is no known cause or obvious reason why CLL develops. Having a biological parent or sibling with the disease has increased the likelihood of developing CLL in a few cases, but the risk is low.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia symptoms

Many people with CLL don't display any symptoms. Instead, your doctor may suspect the disease based on abnormal blood test results from a routine physical. Over time, the following chronic lymphocytic leukemia symptoms may develop:

• Fatigue 
• Night sweats
• Shortness of breath
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Low-grade fevers
• Unexplained weight loss
• Feeling full
• Skin, lung or kidneys infections

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)1

Chronic myeloid leukemia—also called chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronic granulocytic leukemia and chronic myelocytic leukemia—starts when abnormal cells form in the bone marrow where blood cells are produced. This type of leukemia is less common and happens more often in older adults.

Chronic myeloid leukemia risk factors

There is no known cause for CML. Your risk of developing Chronic myeloid leukemia increases if you are:

• Male
• Getting older
• Exposed to radiation

Chronic myeloid leukemia symptoms

Unlike acute types of leukemia, CML is slower to grow and may take more time to cause symptoms. Often, patients learn they have CML after a routine physical exam or a blood test. People with CML may not have any symptoms at first, but gradually may develop:

• Weakness and fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Bone pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs
• Night sweats

These chronic myeloid leukemia symptoms and risk factors could be present due to other illnesses not related to blood cancer, so see your cancer doctor about your concerns.

Autologous blood stem cell transplant

An autologous blood stem cell transplant uses cells found in your own blood. These healthy stem cells are removed before treatment and are then placed back in the blood after other leukemia treatments.

Blood and marrow transplant

A blood and marrow transplant (BMT) may be an option for leukemia treatment. This procedure injects healthy marrow stem cells from a donor into your bloodstream to help your body make its own healthy cells.

CAR-T therapy

CAR-T therapy is a treatment option for some types of leukemia blood cancer, such as acute lymphocytic leukemia. This type of immunotherapy uses your own T cells, a kind of white blood cell, and reprograms them to fight leukemia cells.

Chemotherapy

Several chemo drugs can help destroy leukemia blood cancer cells. Your team will choose the best chemotherapy drug or group of drugs to fight your specific type of leukemia.

Clinical trials

Through Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, we offer innovative research and clinical trials for leukemia. Learn more about our cancer research or search for a clinical trial for your specific type of leukemia.

Find a clinical trial

Differentiating agents

This type of therapy aims to help leukemia cells change into a more mature state so that they no longer multiply at a fast rate. It can slow down their growth.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses your own immune system to fight leukemia. Cells are taken from your blood and reprogrammed in the lab. These new cancer-fighting cells are then infused back into your blood to attack leukemia cells.

Monoclonal antibody therapy

Your immune system makes antibodies, which stick to cells that don’t belong in your body and attract other immune cells to attack them. Monoclonal antibodies act in the same way but are made in the lab. They are designed to attach to your specific type of leukemia blood cancer cells so your body can fight them better.

Pain management

Pain is a common side effect of leukemia and leukemia treatments. Our pain management services offer many options to reduce pain and help you better cope with leukemia treatment.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses beams of energy to damage leukemia cells so they can’t duplicate. You may have radiation along with chemotherapy, or it may be used before a blood or marrow transplant.

Targeted therapy

This type of therapy targets distinct genetic changes only found in your type of leukemia. By blocking certain proteins or affecting specific parts of the leukemia blood cancer cells, it prevents them from growing.