A type of blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow, and affects the blood cells and blood-forming cells, is called leukemia. Among the three types of blood cells in a human body, the condition particularly affects white blood cells. It is common in children below 10 years of age and people of older age. There are four common types of leukemia that occurs in adults and kids.

Common types of leukemia
Leukemia is classified based on the level of severity or based on the cells it targets. When its onset is abrupt and the immature cells are impacted, it is called an acute condition. In the cases where the onset of leukemia is slow and untraceable for years, it is said to be chronic. Based on the affected cells, the condition is classified as lymphoid or myeloid. The following are the common types of leukemia based on these variations:

• Acute lymphoid leukemia
  Lymphocytes are the type of blood cells that take care of the body’s immunity. Acute lymphoid leukemia is common in children, especially when there is a family history of certain genetic conditions. DNA level changes in the bone marrow cause this type of blood cancer. Children exposed to high levels of radiation or some chemicals are also at high risk of developing acute lymphoid leukemia or ALL. Immunotherapy is part of the treatment plan created for patients with this condition.
• Chronic lymphoid leukemia
  Mature lymphoid cells in adults might be the target in the case of chronic lymphoid leukemia or CLL. With the lymphocytes affected, the body’s defense mechanism against infections is severely hampered. Secondary infections are, therefore, quite common in people who develop CLL. This cancer goes unnoticed for years and it results in the inflammation of lymph nodes in a few patients. When left untreated, the infected lymphoid cells multiply. The affected blood cells in the bone marrow lead to the synthesis of lymphocytes that are inefficient in strengthening the immunity.
• Acute myeloid leukemia
  This acute leukemia variant targets blood cells other than the lymphocytes, the myeloid cells to be precise. Chemotherapy might be required in most cases in order to slow down the multiplication of the infected cells and aggravation of the issue. There are also various forms of drug therapies available today to help those with AML. For the severe conditions where the cancer has progressed uncontrollably, doctors might recommend stem cell transplants to replace the affected stem cells.
• Chronic myeloid leukemia
  Another form of cancer that is common in adults is CML. From weight loss to excess bleeding during injuries, there are many signs that indicate the presence of CML. When biological treatment methods fail, stem-cell therapy is a common recommendation for this disease.

These four common types of leukemia all progress at different speeds depending on the genetic makeup of the individual. With the medical advancements available today, an effective resolution is possible when the cancer is diagnosed on time.