1What Is Leukemia?
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the normal process of producing white blood cells in the bone marrow. In people with this condition, cancerous cells may grow rapidly and dominate healthy cells in the body. Since white blood cells play an important role in the immune system, this would affect the ability of the body to fight infections. In general, leukemia is more common in the elderly. However, it is worth noting that the most common form of cancer in children is acute leukemia. The exact cause of this disease is still not fully understood. Some major risk factors include smoking, genetics, environmental exposures, and radiation. Typical signs include weight loss, bruising, anemia, or frequent infections. [1]
