Classifications
Leukemia is classified by how fast it grows and gets worse, and by which type of blood cell is affected.
The first classification, how fast it develops, is grouped into acute and chronic leukemia.
Acute leukemia occurs when most of the abnormal blood cells don’t develop and can’t function normally. It can get bad very fast.
Chronic leukemia occurs when there are some immature cells, but others are normal and can function normally. It worsens more slowly than acute forms do.
Lymphocytic (or lymphoblastic) leukemia involves bone marrow cells that turn to lymphocytes, a kind of white blood cell.
Myelogenous (or myeloid) leukemia involves the marrow cells that produce red blood cells, platelets, [2] and other forms of white blood cells.