Acute and chronic leukaemia

What is leukaemia?

Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects blood cells in your bone marrow – and typically white blood cells. If you are diagnosed with leukaemia, it can be either acute or chronic. 

Acute leukaemia means the cancer is progressing quickly and aggressively, and usually needs immediate treatment. There are two types of acute leukaemia: acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), which are both rare cancers. Chronic leukaemia means the cancer is developing slowly and may not need treating at first. 

There are two types of chronic leukaemia: chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), the most common type of leukaemia, and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).

At London Haematology, we are experts at diagnosing, monitoring and treating both acute and chronic leukaemia. An experienced multidisciplinary team will support you from your first consultation, during your procedure and throughout your recovery.  

Causes

Doctors do not know the exact cause of leukaemia or why some people develop acute leukaemia and other chronic leukaemia. However, there are risk factors that may increase your chance of developing the illnesses. 

Risk factors for acute leukaemia include:

•    Being aged 60 or over
•    Smoking cigarettes
•    Having chemotherapy or radiotherapy for other cancers
•    Exposure to very high radiation levels
•    Exposure to the chemical benzene
•    Having certain blood disorders, such as myelodysplasia or myeloproliferative
•    Having genetic conditions, such as Down’s syndrome and Fanconi’s anaemia
•    Having a family history of acute leukaemia

Risk factors for chronic leukaemia include:

•    Being aged 60 or over
•    Being male 
•    Being of European origin
•    Exposure to very high radiation levels
•    Having a close relative (parent. sibling or child) who has chronic leukaemia

Symptoms

Acute leukaemia

Many symptoms of acute leukaemia can be vague. They may appear over a few weeks and people often feel ill quite quickly. Signs and symptoms of acute leukaemia may include one or more of the following:  

•    General weakness
•    Tiredness that does not go away with rest (fatigue)
•    A high temperature
•    Frequent infections
•    Bruising or bleeding easily
•    Weight loss
•    Bone and joint aches
•    Shortness of breath
•    Pale skin
•    Feeling full in your belly
•    Swelling of your lymph nodes

Chronic leukaemia

Many people with chronic leukaemia do not display any symptoms. If they do, they tend to be mild and get worse slowly. Signs and symptoms of chronic leukaemia may include one or more of the following:  

•    Frequent infections
•    Tiredness that does not go away with rest (fatigue)
•    Bruising or bleeding easily
•    Pain or a full feeling on the left side of your belly, due to a swollen spleen
•    Poor appetite and weight loss
•    Night sweats
•    Headaches
•    Bone pain
•    Anaemia 

Diagnosis

All types of leukaemia are diagnosed by examining samples of blood or bone marrow for abnormal cells. If abnormal cells are spotted, your samples are tested in different ways to find out more about these cells.

Often, chronic leukaemia is diagnosed after a routine blood test, because many people do not display any symptoms of the illness. 

Treatments

Your treatment plan will depend on the type of leukaemia you have, how advanced it is and your age and general health. 

Acute leukaemia

If you are diagnosed with acute leukaemia, you usually begin intense treatment as soon as possible. This is because the cancer is growing quickly. 

Typically, the first treatment for acute leukaemia is chemotherapy. But, depending on the type of acute leukaemia you have, you might have another treatment such as a targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.

Chronic leukaemia

If you have chronic leukaemia, you may not need treatment straightaway. Your expert healthcare team at London Haematology will decide this after considering your symptoms and establishing the stage of your leukaemia.

If you do require treatment, you are likely to start taking a targeted cancer drug. You might have this on its own or with chemotherapy. 

The main aim of your treatment is to get you into remission. This means there are no signs of leukaemia cells in your blood or bone marrow and you feel well. Remission can last for years. 

Other treatments you might have for chronic leukaemia include radiotherapy, stem cell transplant, surgery and supportive treatments such as antibiotics, blood transfusions or steroids.