Acute Leukaemia
A rapid progressive cancer of the blood of sudden onset, characterised by the uncontrolled proliferation of immature blood cells which take over the bone marrow and usually spill into the blood stream. If left untreated it is fatal within a few weeks or months.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)
A rapidly progressing cancer of the blood affecting immature cells of the bone marrow, usually predominantly of the white cell population. It is much more common in adults than in children.

Aplastic Anaemia
A rare disorder characterised by the failure of the bone marrow to produce blood cells. It may occur as an inherited condition or, more often, the disease develops later in life. This is called acquired aplastic anaemia. It leads to a severe shortage of all types of blood cell causing tiredness, susceptibility to infection and serious problems with bleeding.

Burkitt's Lymphoma
A radidly growing type of non-hodgkins's lymphoma which usually affects the abdomen and requires immediate treatment. It responds well to specially designed chemotherapy.

Chronic Leukaemia
A cancer of the blood of gradual onset and generally of slow progression. It may be diagnosed by chance following a routine blood test and prior to the appearance of clinical symptons.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)
A slowly progressing form of leukaemia, characterised by an increased number of the type of white blood cells known as lymphocytes. It is the most common form of leukaemia in the UK and occurs predominantly in late middle age onwards. It has variable symptons and course, but may be diagnosed by chance before the patient develops any clinical symptons of disease.

Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia or Chronic Granulocytic Leykaemia (CML or CGL)
A leukaemia which is initially slowly progressing. It is characterised by the presence of large numbers of abnormal, mature granulocytes, circulating in the blood.

Lymphoma
A cancer which originates in lymphoid tissue, including the lymph glands, liver, spleen, bowel, bone marrow, brain and occasionally other organs. The disease results from the uncontrolled production of lymphocytes. The general term includes over thirty different forms of the disease but there are two main categories: Hodgkins's disease and non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Multiple Myeloma
A cancer caused by uncontrolled proliferation of the white blood cells called plasma cells within the bone marrow. The malignant cells do not usually accumulate in the blood and the tumour growth is restricted to the bones. This leads to bone destruction and is often associated with kidney problems.

Myelodysplasia or Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
A group of closely linked conditions in which the process of blood cell formation is disturbed by a failure of immature cells to grow and develop normally. Sometimes referred to as 'Pre-Leukaemia', although only a minority of patients will ever develop leukaemia. Treatment may be based on supportive therapy or involve the use of chemotherapy.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
A group of lymphomas which differ in important ways from Hodgkin's disease and are classified according to the microscopic appearance, cytogenetics and immunology of the cancer cells. The disease is classified as either indolent (slowly growing) or aggressive (rapidly growing) and may be treated in a variety of ways depending on the exact diagnosis.

Like all cancers, leukaemias and the related diseases arise as a result of changes in, or damage to, the genes which control cell growth, development and division. In most cases, no specific cause can be identified. There are certain factors known to increase the risk of developing leukaemia or one of the related diseases.