Info
Leukaemia
Basics
What it means
A cancer of the blood and the bone marrow, in which too many immature or defective blood cells are produced abnormally. It can develop acutely or chronically and requires specialist haematological assessment.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Cytogenetic test
- A laboratory test that examines the chromosomes in cells to detect numerical or structural changes. In leukaemias and lymphomas, it helps establish the subtype of the disease and choose the targeted treatment.
- Adenocarcinoma
- A subtype of carcinoma that arises in glandular cells, that is, cells that produce or secrete certain substances. It can appear in organs such as the lung, colon, pancreas or prostate.
- Benign tumor
- A growth that does not invade the surrounding tissues and does not produce metastases. Although it may sometimes need treatment or monitoring, a benign tumor is not considered cancer.
Other terms in “Basics”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.