Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow—the soft tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. It begins when early bloodforming cells develop DNA changes that cause them to grow and divide out of control. Because every patient’s situation is unique, our team at Illinois CancerCare focuses on accurate diagnosis, modern risk-adapted treatment, and supportive care designed to give you the best possible outcome.

Understanding Leukemia

Doctors classify leukemia by how fast it grows (acute vs. chronic) and which cell line is involved (myeloid vs. lymphoid). The four major types are:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) — fast growing cancer of lymphoid precursors.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) — fastgrowing cancer of myeloid precursors; the most common acute leukemia in adults.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) — slow growing cancer of mature lymphocytes; one of the most common adult leukemias.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) — slow growing myeloproliferative neoplasm typically driven by the Philadelphia chromosome (BCR::ABL1).

Different leukemia types have different tests, treatments, and outlooks, so getting the specific type right is essential.

Signs & Symptoms

Many symptoms are related to decreased normal blood cell production:

Fatigue/weakness, shortness of breath (anemia)
Bruising/bleeding, frequent or severe nosebleeds/gingival bleeding (low platelets)
Fevers, frequent infections, or slow healing (low functional white cells)
Swollen lymph nodes, fullness under the ribs (spleen/liver), bone or joint pain

These symptoms can be caused by other conditions; persistent or worsening symptoms should be evaluated.

Risk Factors

Risk factors vary by leukemia type, but can include:

Prior chemotherapy or radiation, benzene exposure (notably for AML)
Older age (more common in many adult leukemias)
Genetic factors and certain inherited syndromes
History of radiation exposure; some leukemias relate to specific gene/chromosome changes (e.g., BCR::ABL1 in CML)

Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will develop leukemia.

Screening

There is no routine screening test for people at average risk. Leukemia is typically found when symptoms develop or when abnormal blood counts are detected during testing for other reasons.

Diagnosis

Your Illinois CancerCare team uses a stepwise approach to confirm the type, estimate risk, and plan therapy:

(CBC with differential, peripheral smear) and bone marrow aspiration/biopsy to confirm leukemia and measure blast percentage.

(immunophenotyping) to determine the leukemia lineage (myeloid vs. lymphoid) and subtype.

(e.g., BCR::ABL1 for CML; riskdefining genetic changes in AML/ALL; FISH/NGS panels) to guide prognosis and treatment selection.

(in selected cases, especially ALL) to check the cerebrospinal fluid (CNS).

Unlike most solid tumors, acute leukemias aren’t “staged” by tumor size or spread; instead they’re described as untreated, in remission, or refractory/relapsed and stratified by genetic risk and response to therapy. Chronic leukemias have phase/category systems (e.g., CML chronic/accelerated/blast phases).

Treatment Overview (By Major Type)

SurgAcute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)ery

Treatment is urgent and typically includes multiphase chemotherapy (induction → consolidation/intensification → maintenance), CNS prophylaxis, and targeted agents based on genetics/antigens; some adults benefit from stem cell transplant depending on risk and response.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Standard care uses intensive induction chemotherapy to achieve remission, followed by post-remission therapy (additional chemo and/or allogeneic stem cell transplant for higherrisk disease). Specific subtypes—like acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)—use specialized targeted regimens distinct from other AMLs.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Many people with no symptoms can be safely managed with active surveillance (“watchful waiting”). Treatment, when needed, often uses targeted oral therapies and/or antibodybased regimens (selections are guided by genetics, comorbidities, and preferences), with stem cell transplant reserved for select cases.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

Most patients receive long-term tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy directed at BCR::ABL1, which can control the disease for many years. Care is phasespecific; accelerated/blast phase often requires more intensive approaches.

Your Illinois CancerCare physician will review the benefits, risks, and likely side effects for each approach—and whether a clinical trial is right for you. (See our Leukemia Clinical Trials for studies that may be available to you.)

Prognosis

Outlook depends on which type of leukemia you have, your age and health, cytogenetic/molecular features, and how well the disease responds to initial therapy. Some leukemias are highly responsive to targeted treatments (e.g., CML with TKIs), while outcomes for acute leukemias depend strongly on genetic risk and early response. Your care team will explain what these features mean for you.

Follow-Up & Survivorship

After treatment, follow-up may include:

Regular clinic visits and blood tests to monitor counts and minimal residual disease (as applicable)
Molecular monitoring (e.g., BCR::ABL1 levels in CML) and sideeffect management for targeted therapies
Vaccinations, infection prevention, and screening for late effects (heart health, endocrine issues, bone health) tailored to the therapies you’ve received
We’ll create a personalized survivorship plan and coordinate supportive services—nutrition, mental health, financial navigation, and return-to-life resources.

Why Choose Illinois CancerCare

Experienced leukemia specialists offering comprehensive diagnostics and risk-adapted care
Access to innovative treatments and clinical trials close to home
Compassionate, patient-centered support, from diagnosis through survivorship

Sources & Patient Friendly References

All information was taken from the NCI (National Cancer Institute) and ACS (American Cancer Society).