Leukemia is a group of cancers in which there is uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and reduced production of normal blood cells.
The cancerous white blood cells are unable to fight infection; lack of red blood cells leads to anemia; and reduced levels of platelets lead to excessive bruising and bleeding.
The cancerous white cells also spread to other organs. Leukemia may develop rapidly (acute) or more slowly (chronic) and may be fatal without treatment, which may include anticancer drugs, blood transfusions, radiation therapy, or a bone marrow transplan