What is Leukemia?

What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia?

What is AML with Philadelphia Chromosome?


"All this science, I don't understand." Rocket Man, Elton John, 1972

Leukemia

  • It is a cancer of the bone marrow and the blood

  • It is most often found in white blood cells

  • Most frequently divided into categories by fast growing (acute), slow growing (chronic), whether it starts in the myeloid cells or in the lymphoid cells

  • There are six primary types, some more common (treatable) than others: Leukemia in Children, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), Chronic Myelomonocytic (CMML), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in Adults (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

For more information on Leukemia: see RESOURCES

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

  • It is one of the six primary types of Leukemia

  • It is a cancer of the bone marrow and the blood

  • Affects mostly cells that aren't fully developed so these cells can't carry out their normal functions

  • It is the most common form of Leukemia in adults

  • Diagnosed early, it is easily treatable with a high survival rate

For more information on AML: see RESOURCES

AML with the Philadelph Chromosome

  • It is a cancer of the bone marrow and the blood

  • It is a variant of AML

  • It grows rapidly, and left untreated, death can follow in a matter of weeks

  • It is the least common form of Leukemia

  • Many of the of the most effective drugs are classified as "experimental" by insurance companies due to the lack of data

  • Chemotherapy can only slow the growth rate

  • A stem cell transplant is the only proven treatment for long term remission

For more information on AML + the Philadelphia Chromosome: see RESOURCES