Types of Blood Cancer

Leukemia is a group of cancers affecting the blood and bone marrow. This condition usually affects white blood cells but can start in other types of blood cells.
Lymphocytic leukemias begin in cells that become lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Myeloid leukemias begin in cells that can become white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets. Leukemia can be acute (fast-growing) or chronic (slow-growing).

Types of leukemia

Doctors diagnose the type of leukemia you have based on where it starts and how quickly it grows. The main types of leukemia are:

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): The bone marrow makes too many immature lymphocytes, crowding out healthy blood cells that fight infection. This type is also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It’s the most common form of leukemia in children.
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): This disease is a common form of leukemia affecting adults. It causes a surge of abnormal white blood cells that block production of normal, healthy blood cells.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): This type of leukemia commonly develops from a type of white blood cell called B lymphocytes (B cells). It’s the most common form of leukemia in adults.
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): This type of leukemia causes rapid growth of cancerous white blood cells. It’s also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia and chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL).
• Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML): This type of cancer develops in monocytes, another type of white blood cell.

Risk factors for leukemia

Different types of leukemia have different risk factors, including:

• Age (being over 65 may increase your risk)
• Environmental factors such as tobacco smoke, pesticides and industrial solvents
• Family history of leukemia
• Genetic disorders, such as blood disorders and Down syndrome
• Previous cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Radiation exposure

Symptoms of leukemia

Symptoms may vary among the different types of leukemia. Symptoms of leukemia may look or feel like those of other, less serious illnesses. Talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms for several weeks:

• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Night sweats
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained bruising
• Unexplained weight loss

How we treat leukemia

After a leukemia diagnosis, your care team discusses your treatment options, including the benefits and side effects of each. You may receive one or more treatments, based on the type and stage of leukemia, your medical history and your preferences:

• Stem cell (bone marrow) transplant
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy

We also participate in clinical trials to test new leukemia treatments. Talk with your doctor about whether you may qualify.

Lymphoma is a group of cancers that develop in the lymph system. Some cancers, such as lung or breast cancer, can spread to the lymph nodes, but they’re not lymphomas.

Types of lymphoma

There are many types of lymphoma, including two main types:

• Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

The difference between these two types is the nature or growth of lymphocytes (types of white blood cells) involved. Large, abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg cells indicate Hodgkin’s lymphoma. If you don’t have these cells, you may have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In addition, our team treats related diseases such as Castleman disease, also called giant lymph node hyperplasia or angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia. This rare condition causes abnormal growth of lymph node cells. It’s not cancer, but it acts like lymphoma, and people with the disease often go on to develop lymphoma.

Risk factors for Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Risk factors for Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:

• Age (early adulthood, ages 15–40, or late adulthood, after age 75)
• Exposure to chemicals such as Agent Orange in the Vietnam War
• Family history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Previous infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection or mononucleosis
• Weakened immune system, including infection with HIV

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma risk factors

Risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:

• Age (older than 60)
• Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus or Helicobacter pylori bacteria
• Exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene, herbicides and pesticides, including Agent Orange
• Immune system deficiency and HIV infection
• Infection with HIV, human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) or EBV
• Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Radiation exposure

Symptoms of lymphoma

Lymphoma can have many different symptoms depending on where in the body it’s located. Some common signs include:

• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss

How we treat lymphoma

Your doctor may recommend one or more treatments, based on the type and stage of lymphoma, your medical history and your preferences:

• Stem cell transplant
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy

We participate in several clinical trials to test promising new lymphoma treatments. Talk with your doctor about whether you qualify. Learn about advanced lymphoma therapies we’ve developed.

Myeloma begins in the bone marrow and affects plasma cells (white blood cells that produce infection-fighting antibodies). People with myeloma have weakened immune systems and are at risk of infection.

Types of myeloma

Doctors diagnose and classify myeloma based on how quickly or slowly the disease progresses:

• Asymptomatic: Also known as smoldering myeloma, this type moves slowly and often produces no symptoms.
• Symptomatic: This type progresses quickly and can cause anemia, kidney damage and bone disease.

Myeloma can take several forms, including:

• Multiple myeloma: More than 90 percent of people with myeloma have this type. Multiple myeloma affects many areas of the body.
• Extramedullary myeloma: In this type of myeloma, tumors form in tissues other than the bone marrow, such as the skin, muscles or lungs.
• Solitary plasmacytoma: In this type, myeloma cells collect and form only one tumor, usually in a bone.

Symptoms of myeloma

Myeloma symptoms depend on the type of myeloma. Some signs include:

• Anemia (a shortage of red blood cells, also known as low iron)
• Frequent infections
• High protein levels in the blood and/or urine
• Hypercalcemia (excessive calcium in the blood)
• Kidney damage or failure
• Osteoporosis
• Unexplained weight loss

Risk factors for myeloma

Myeloma can affect anyone, but it’s more common in people who are:

• Black
• Employed in petroleum-related industries
• Exposed to radiation
• Male
• Obese
• Older than 50

How we treat myeloma

If you’re diagnosed with myeloma, your doctor may recommend one or more treatments. Optimal treatment depends on the type and stage of myeloma, your medical history and your preferences.

• Stem cell transplant
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy

We participate in clinical trials to test new myeloma treatments. Talk with your doctor about whether you qualify.

Aplastic anemia is not cancer, but common cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy can cause it. Aplastic anemia causes bone marrow to stop making one, two or all three types of new blood cells: red cells, white cells and platelets. There are two types of aplastic anemia:

• Acquired aplastic anemia: Triggered by a virus, medication, toxic chemicals or cancer treatments such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy
• Inherited aplastic anemia: Caused by a genetic defect and can increase a person’s risk of developing leukemia and other cancers

This condition can increase your risk of infection and uncontrolled bleeding. Blood transfusions to treat aplastic anemia can overload the body with iron, which can cause liver and cardiac problems.

Risk factors for aplastic anemia

Factors that may increase your risk for aplastic anemia include:

• Autoimmune disorders
• Cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Pregnancy, although this is rare
• Use of some prescription drugs for conditions such as bacterial infections and rheumatoid arthritis

Symptoms of aplastic anemia

Symptoms depend on which type of blood cells are low. Common symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Irregular heartbeat
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained bruising

How we treat aplastic anemia

Mild cases of aplastic anemia may not require treatment, but we’ll monitor you to ensure it doesn’t progress. If you’re diagnosed with aplastic anemia during cancer treatment, the condition may go away after treatment ends. For more serious cases, your doctor may recommend one or more treatments, including:

• Blood transfusion
• Medication
• Stem cell transplant