Leukemia

Leukaemia, cancer of the blood, 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. The specific cause of leukemia is still not known. Scientists suspect that viral, genetic, environmental or immunologic factors may be involved.

The types of leukemia tend to be linked with certain age groups.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is most common during childhood and in early adulthood, although it is also diagnosed in adults 30 years old and older.

Acute myelogenous leukemia occurs more often in adults.

Chronic leukemia is more common between ages 40 and 70 and is rare among young people. MDS is most often found in patients nearing their 60s and 70s. However, there are always exceptions.

The diagnosis of leukemia is based on the results of both blood and bone marrow tests such as bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy.

Bone Marrow Aspiration: Before insertion of the bone marrow aspiration needle, the aspiration site is numbed with anesthesia. During this procedure, a sample of bone marrow cells is removed from the hip bone with a needle. Most people feel pressure as the needle is inserted and a few seconds of sharp pain when the bone marrow fluid is removed.

Bone Marrow Biopsy: With a bone marrow biopsy, a small piece of bone is removed. A biopsy may be slightly more painful, but only during the time that the procedure is being done.