What Is Leukaemia?
Leukaemia is the cancer of the blood or bone marrow which is caused by abnormal increases in immature white blood cel s known as ‘blasts’. White blood cel s help to fight off infection. The term ‘leukaemia’ covers a wide range of different types of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow.
Approximately 8,200 people are diagnosed with leukaemia every year in the UK. Incidence rates of the disease are higher in men than in women.
Since it covers such a broad spectrum, there are many varied causes of leukaemia. Amongst the most well documented are: exposure to certain substances, some viruses, genetic disposition, smoking and a weakened immune system.