What are the types of leukemia?

Leukemia has several types. They include:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Chronic myeloid leukemia
• Hairy cell leukemia

The type of leukemia depends on two things: the type of blood cell that becomes cancer, and whether the cancer grows quickly or slowly. The words "acute" and "chronic" describe the speed of growth. Acute types grow quickly, and chronic types grow slowly. The other words describe the kind of blood cell involved.

Because there are several types, two people who both have leukemia can have very different diagnoses. Your healthcare team can explain which type is involved in a specific situation.