leukemia

/luˈkimiə/

/luˈkimiə/

Other forms: leukemias

Leukemia is a type of cancer that forms in the blood cells. Leukemia makes it very difficult for the body to fight off infection.

Because it dramatically increases the number of white blood cells in a person's body, leukemia decreases red blood cells and platelets, both of which are necessary for keeping us healthy. Additionally, the white blood cells caused by leukemia can't fight infection the way they normally do. The word leukemia comes from the Greek words leukos, "white," and haima, "blood."

Definitions of leukemia

1. noun

   malignant neoplasm of blood-forming tissues; characterized by abnormal proliferation of leukocytes; one of the four major types of cancer
   synonyms: cancer of the blood, leucaemia, leukaemia

   types:

   acute leukemia

   rapidly progressing leukemia

   chronic leukemia

   slowly progressing leukemia

   lymphocytic leukemia

   leukemia characterized by enlargement of lymphoid tissues and lymphocytic cells in the circulating blood

   histiocytic leukaemia, histiocytic leukemia, monoblastic leukaemia, monoblastic leukemia, monocytic leukaemia, monocytic leukemia

   leukemia characterized by the proliferation of monocytes and monoblasts in the blood

   myeloblastic leukemia

   a malignant neoplasm of blood-forming tissues; characterized by numerous myeloblasts in the blood stream

   granulocytic leukemia, myelocytic leukemia

   a malignant neoplasm of blood-forming tissues; marked by proliferation of myelocytes and their presence in the blood

   acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia

   acute leukemia characterized by proliferation of immature lymphoblast-like cells in bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and blood; most common in children

   acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia

   acute leukemia characterized by proliferation of granular leukocytes; most common in adolescents and young adults

   chronic lymphocytic leukemia

   chronic leukemia characterized by lymphoblast-like cells; more common in older men

   chronic myelocytic leukemia, myeloid leukemia

   chronic leukemia characterized by granular leukocytes; more common in older people

   lymphoblastic leukemia

   a form of lymphocytic leukemia in which the abnormal cells in the circulating blood are almost totally lymphoblasts

   type of:

   cancer, malignant neoplastic disease

   any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division; it may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream