Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood that can occur in both children and adults.

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Leukemia is a condition in which the bone marrow creates abnormal blood cells. Most leukemias affect white blood cells. White blood cells help your immune system fight off infection and disease.

In acute types of leukemia, the abnormal cells grow quickly. Chronic leukemia grows slowly. Treatment for leukemia often depends on how fast it grows.

Risk factors for leukemia

The cause of leukemia is not known, but research shows certain things that are known to increase the risk of leukemia.

Risk factors for leukemia include:

Tobacco use
Exposure to radiation or certain chemicals
Family history of leukemia
Certain genetic conditions like down syndrome and Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Viral infections such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTPV-1), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and hepatitis C
Previous cancer treatments including chemotherapy and radiation

Signs and symptoms of leukemia

Signs and symptoms of leukemia may include:

Feeling tired or weak
Fever or chills
Unexpected weight loss
Night sweats
Bone pain
Nosebleeds
Easy bruising
Frequent infections

Many leukemia symptoms are symptoms of other, less serious conditions. Often, leukemia is first discovered in a routine blood test.

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First-of-their-kind treatments

University of Iowa Health Care is home to the state’s only comprehensive bone marrow transplant program, with autologous (stem cells from you) and allogenic (stem cells from other people) bone marrow transplants.

CAR T-cell therapy is a groundbreaking technology that uses a genetically improved version of a cancer patient’s own white blood cells to kill the cancer cells in the patient’s body.

Treatments for leukemia

Treatment for your particular type of leukemia will depend on the type of cancer, your age, your health, and other factors your provider will discuss with you.

Chronic leukemia treatment might start with observation. In the early stage of the disease, when it’s progressing slowly, your provider may recommend monitoring closely and waiting to begin treatment until symptoms begin to change.

Treatments for leukemia include chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplants and CAR T-cell therapy.

We also offer clinical trials, which are research studies that test the latest treatments and drugs that are not yet available to the public. These new treatments have the potential to improve your quality of life or increase your chances of survival. These treatments are available to UI Health Care patients before they’re widely available on the market.