Leukaemia is divided in two main groups: acute and chronic, and four general types: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, and Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia.
Article continues below
Acute leukaemia appears when leukaemia attack cells in their very early stage. That means that cells stay immature and don't function at all. Patients with acute leukaemia more often suffer of infections, blooding and anaemia, and almost in all situations they need immediately medical attention. Acute leukaemia develops very fast and starts very quickly. Some acute leukaemia, despite of treating, end by death in a few weeks.
Chronic leukaemia appears when leukaemia attack "grown up" cells. That cells oftentimes have most of their functionality preserved. Because of that there is a lower possibility of anaemia, blooding and infections. Patient with chronic leukaemia doesn't always needs immediate medical treatment, some of them will not need it at all.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) appears more often in children but it can appear in grown up patient, too. This kind of leukaemia can be successfully treated with chemotherapy. Of children who have this form of leukaemia 75 percent respond very well on therapy, and complete remission and recovery is possible. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia has predilection to extend on central nerve system which demands special preventive treating approach.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) is the type that progresses very slowly. This illness usually appears in older patient and has no data that it appears in children. Because of its very slow progress patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia may not feel unusual symptoms until the latter stage of illness. The first symptoms can be general sick feeling, fatigue, loss of energy, fever, loss of appetite or loss of weight. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia should not be treated if it is not active, and patient with it can live normally.
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) attacks mainly granulocytes which are part of myeloid family. Their task is to track infective agents in the blood and tissue. Too much myeloid cells in blood can cause blocking of blood vessels. This type of leukaemia can appear in children and adolescents but usually attacks grown up patient. Some patients can attain full remission if they are treated with chemotherapy.
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) more often attacks younger patients. This leukaemia have three stages which make it different of other leukaemia. It starts with slow multiplication of changed cells. Next level to acute phase is gradual increase of number of immature cells (accelerated phase). This type of leukaemia with time transfers to blast phase which is the final phase in developing of chronic myeloid leukaemia.
The time from appearing of illness to its transformation in acute leukaemia is hard to predict, but it is in average 5 to 7 years. For a patient with an acute transformation healing is very hard. In chronic phase it is easier and more efficient. Chronic myeloid leukaemia can not be healed but it can be controlled very well. ■