Cancer health centre

Leukaemia directory

Leukaemia is cancer of the blood that develops from an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. As the white cells accumulate, they interfere with vital organ functions, including the production of healthy blood cells, making people with leukaemia anaemic and susceptible to bruising, bleeding and infection. Leukaemia is classified as acute or chronic. Leukaemia are further classified according to the type of white blood cell involved. No one knows exactly what causes leukaemia, but chromosome abnormalities, exposure to pollution, prolonged exposure to radiation and tobacco smoking may be factors. Treatment typically includes chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants. Follow the links below to find BootsWebMD's comprehensive coverage of how leukaemia develops, the symptoms of leukaemia, its diagnosis, treatment and much more.

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NICE is to recommend bendamustine (Levact) to extend the lives of patients with the most common form of leukaemia

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Thumbnail: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - 'I was put in an ambulance that night... I was petrified'

When I was 11 years old I remember having an ear infection that lasted about four weeks. I also remember feeling really tired and faint when I was running in the playground, and seeing lines around everyone.One evening I came home with a really bad rash on my ankles, which we thought might be German measles. I was also getting out of breath walking up stairs.My mum took me to the doctor after school one evening to talk about the ear infection. My GP asked me some questions, and I told her about the other things that had been happening. She looked at me and said, 'We need to take you to hospital'.I had to go straight to Canterbury hospital that night to have a blood test. About two hours after the test they said, 'You've got leukaemia and you need to go to the Royal Marsden Hospital'. I was put in an ambulance and taken to the Marsden that night. I was petrified.I was in hospital for three months. I had quite a lot of chemotherapy but was lucky - there weren't too many

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