Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells. Although leukemia can develop in children, there are several types of the condition that doctors most often diagnose in adults.
The types of leukemia that can occur in adults
- chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
- acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Leukemia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections, anemia, and bleeding or bruising easily.
In this article, we discuss in detail leukemia in adults, including its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
A note about sex and gender
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects blood-forming cells.
All blood cells in the human body begin their life cycle as stem cells, which are present in a person’s bone marrow. As the blood cells mature, they go through different stages of development.
Leukemia occurs when one type of immature blood cell mutates and begins growing uncontrollably. The overgrowth of one type of blood cell crowds out the others, causing a range of symptoms.
Leukemia can develop at any age. Some types are more common in adults, while others develop more frequently in children and adolescents.
Doctors categorize leukemias based on two broad characteristics: how fast they grow and the type of blood-forming cell they affect.
Immature blood cells can be myeloid or lymphoid. Myeloid cells go on to become red blood cells, platelets, or specific types of white blood cell. Lymphoid cells have the potential to become other types of white blood cell.
Leukemia that affects myeloid cells is known as myeloid or myelogenous leukemia, while leukemia that affects lymphoid cells is known as lymphoid, lymphocytic, or lymphoblastic.
The types of leukemia most common in adults include:
CLL
CLL is the most common type of chronic leukemia in adults, and it rarely develops in children. It starts in lymphoid cells that go on to become lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell.
In this chronic, slow-growing form of leukemia, the cancerous cells typically build up gradually, with many people experiencing no symptoms for a few years. This can mean they do not require treatment.
Over time, the cancerous cells spread to other parts of the body. In some cases, CLL can become a more aggressive cancer that is challenging for doctors to treat.
AML
AML is a fast-growing type of leukemia that involves myeloid cells. It usually affects cells that will eventually become white blood cells, but it can also affect immature red blood cells or platelets.
AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults. It accounts for
While AML originates in the bone marrow, it can quickly spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lymph nodes, spleen, spinal cord, brain, or testicles.
CML
Similarly to AML, CML affects myeloid cells. However, it grows slowly.
It can develop in anyone, but it mainly occurs in adults. The average age of diagnosis is
ALL
ALL is most common in children, accounting for
ALL is an aggressive, fast-growing type of cancer that affects lymphoid white blood cells.
Symptoms of leukemia in adults can vary depending on the type of leukemia a person has. People with chronic forms may not have many symptoms for some time.
Those who do may experience one or more of the following:
- tiredness or fatigue
- weakness
- dizziness
- skin paleness
- loss of appetite
- unexplained weight loss
- fever
- night sweats
- frequent or persistent infections
- bone or joint pain
- bruising
- red, purple, or brown spots under the skin
- excessive bleeding, such as nosebleeds or heavy periods
- abdominal swelling, fullness, or discomfort
- enlarged lymph nodes
Some of the factors that can raise the risk of leukemia in adults
- smoking
- experiencing exposure to radiation or benzene
- having previously undergone chemotherapy
- having certain viral infections, such as human T-lymphotropic virus type-1
- having a genetic syndrome, such as Down syndrome, Bloom syndrome, or Fanconi anemia
- having a history of other blood disorders
The incidence of leukemia is higher among males than females, and the likelihood of developing leukemia increases with age.
To diagnose leukemia in adults, doctors will ask the person about their symptoms and may perform a physical examination to look for symptoms such as bruising.
They will then recommend diagnostic tests, such as:
- a complete blood count, which can detect high or low levels of different blood cells
- bone marrow biopsy and aspiration, which allows doctors to examine a small amount of bone marrow tissue
- a blood smear, which doctors examine under a microscope for signs of cancer
- flow cytometry, which analyzes single cells in a special machine
A doctor can diagnose leukemia if they find leukemic cells in the bone marrow samples.
To determine the type and stage of the cancer, they need to identify whether the cells are myeloid or lymphoid and what percentage of the bone marrow these cells make up.
Treatment for leukemia depends on the type a person has. Treatment options may include:
- chemotherapy
- targeted therapy drugs
- immunotherapy
- stem cell transplants
ALL requires immediate treatment in order to stop the leukemia from spreading. This may involve intensive chemotherapy, targeted drug treatment, and a stem cell transplant.
For most forms of AML, the main treatment is chemotherapy, sometimes alongside a targeted therapy drug. Surgery and radiation therapy are treatment options only for
The
People with CLL
Individuals should seek guidance from a healthcare professional if they experience any of the symptoms that could indicate leukemia.
Particularly concerning symptoms include:
- anemia, which causes symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and heart palpitations
- frequent or severe infections
- bruising more easily than normal
- excessive bleeding, such as severe nosebleeds
- unusually heavy periods
Leukemia is a form of cancer that affects blood-forming cells present in the bone marrow. It can affect either myeloid or lymphoid cells, and it can grow quickly or slowly. Doctors use these characteristics to categorize the type of leukemia a person has.
In adults, the
Leukemia can spread from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, allowing it to move to other parts of the body.
Treatment options vary, but they may include chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy, or stem cell transplants.