Leukaemia, or blood cancer, is a disease of unknown cause where the bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal cells. This means that the normal marrow is pushed into smaller and smaller areas, which results in fewer cells being produced and leads to some of the symptoms listed below.

There are many types of leukaemia and each of them is classified according to the exact cell type affected by the disease.
Chronic leukaemia is a slowly progressive form of leukaemia and tends to involve more mature cell types.

Acute leukaemia is rapidly progressive if not treated and involves more immature cells. It develops rapidly from the earliest forms of cells in the immature bone marrow cells (blasts). It requires urgent medical treatment but is generally responsive to chemotherapy.

Acute leukaemia is a rare disease that is more common in children and young people. However, their survival rate is better than in older people.

Sudden appearance of symptoms.

An unnaturally pale complexion (anaemia).

Fatigue.

Pain in the joints. When children are affected, this is sometimes mistaken for growing pains.

Repeated infections, such as sore throats.

Acute leukaemia is also usually accompanied by nosebleeds and bruising easily, often without any kind of blow or fall.

If any of the above symptoms develop, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Parents are understandably afraid of leukaemia, but fortunately, the diagnosis often turns out to be something else entirely, as many other diseases have similar symptoms.

Diseases that damage the bone marrow, such as aplastic anaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, may increase the risk of leukaemia.


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