Types of Leukemia:

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL): This type of cancer is very common in children. This cancer takes over white blood cells. The abnormal cells tend to gather in the spine or brain.

Acute myelogenous Leukemia (AML): This type of cancer occurs more often in males. The chances of getting this increases as you get older.

Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): This type of cancer is common in adults older than 60 years of age. It is more likely to occur in males and hardly ever found in children.  This type usually responds to treatment, but is rarely eliminated.

Chronic myelogenous Leukemia (CML): This type again is mostly found in adult men, and again harldly ever found in children.  There are 3 phases. In the chronic phase, fewer than 10% of the cells in the blood and bone marrow are blast cells (immature blood cells). This phase can last a few months up to a few years, and there may be no symptoms of leukemia, most cases are diagnosed during this phase. In the accelerated phase, the bone marrow starts losing its functionality and treatment isn't as effective as in the chronic phase. The final phase is the blast crisis phase, where the Leukemia has transformed into a more severe form.

Some of the causes:

*Exposure to large amounts of radiation

*Exposure to some chemicals

*Exposure to Chemotherapy when treating other forms of cancer

*Genetics

*Smoke

* Most people who get Leukemia have no specific reason as to what caused it.

Symptoms:

*Fever and night sweats.

*Headaches.

*Bruising or bleeding easily.

*Bone or joint pain.

*Swollen or painful belly from an enlarged spleen

*Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, or groin.

*Getting infections or sick frequently.

*Feeling extremely tired or weak.

*Weight loss and loss of appetite.

Diagnosis:

If you notice several of the symptoms above, you should consult a doctor.  He or she will be able to give you a physical exam and check for swollen lymph nodes, other symptoms, and obtain blood samples for testing.  A CBC or Complete Blood Count will accurately be able to tell what is going on with your body and help with a proper diagnosis.  A biopsy of your bone marrow may be done to further locate any Leukemia.

Treatment:

Depending the type of Leukemia and how quickly it is located, will contribute to which treatments are best suited.  Radiation and Chemotherapy are the most common treatments.  Stem cell therapy is another treatment that is used and there are many clinical trials that are going on.