Leukemia is caused by an increase in the number of white blood cells in an individual’s body. These white blood cells outnumber the red blood cells and platelets, which the body requires to stay healthy. The extra white blood cells prove detrimental to the body.

People who smoke, have undergone radiation therapy, or suffer from a genetic disorder are at a higher risk of suffering from leukemia. Leukemia is of various types and one needs to aware of the symptoms of different types of leukemia.

Types of Leukemia
Leukemia is classified into two types. The first classification is done based on how fast leukemia progresses.

Type 1 Classification

• Acute Leukemia
  In this condition, abnormal blood cells operate like immature blood cells. They do not function properly and multiply at a very fast pace. Thus, the disease spreads across the body very rapidly. Timely treatment can cure or reduce the impact of acute leukemia; hence, one must attend to it immediately.

• Chronic Leukemia
  Chronic leukemia is of various kinds. In one type, many white blood cells are produced in the body, and in another, the body produces a lesser number of cells than it requires. Chronic leukemia is characterized by the presence of mature red blood cells. These blood cells multiply at a slow pace and function normally for some time. The symptoms take a while to be noticed.

Type 2 Classification

• Lymphocytic Leukemia
  In this type of leukemia, the lymphoid cells (lymphocytes), which are responsible for forming the lymphoid or lymphatic tissue, get affected.

• Myelogenous Leukemia
  The myeloid cells get affected in this type of leukemia. Myeloid cells play an important role in producing white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelet-producing cells.

Other major types of leukemia

• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
  It is a condition, which is commonly found in children. Adults can get affected by it too.

• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
  It affects children and adults. It is the most commonly found leukemia in adults.

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
  In chronic lymphocytic leukemia, it takes a while to notice the symptoms, as it spreads across the body very slowly. One will feel healthy for several years after it attacks and realize they are suffering from it at a later stage.

• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
  Largely, adults are susceptible to chronic myelogenous leukemia, the symptoms of which are seen much later. After several months or even years, there comes a time when the leukemia cells start multiplying very rapidly.

Symptoms
The symptoms of different types of leukemia actually vary. Some of the most commonly observed symptoms are blood oozing out from the nose, fatigue, body suffering from infections frequently, weight loss, swelling in lymph nodes, the occurrence of red spots in the skin, bone and joint pain, profusely sweating on a regular basis, and frequently suffering from fever.