It involves the white blood cells known as leukocytes. The two major forms of acute leukemia are called acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myelocytic leukemia. White blood cells defend your body against infection.
Blood cells grow in the bone marrow.
They are supposed to be fully grown when they enter the bloodstream. Leukemia causes one or more of the kinds of white blood cells to lose their ability to mature. Immature white blood cells are called blasts. Blasts take over the bone marrow and prevent it from making enough normal red and white blood cells and platelets. Risk factors for developing leukemia include genetics and exposure to radiation, chemicals, and drugs, including the ones used to treat other kinds of cancer.