Leukaemias and lymphomas are caused by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells. These cells are often immature in that they seem to be stuck in an early phase of the normal cell development. How these chromosomal abnormalities develop is also unclear, but they probably arise spontaneously in an individual rather than being inherited from the parents. Recently, much controversy has centred over whether living near nuclear power stations or electricity cables can cause leukaemia in children. The two main types of leukaemia are acute and chronic.
Acute leukaemia tends to affect younger people and is the most common cancer in children.
It has a rapid and aggressive progression if not quickly treated. Chronic leukaemia tends to affect older people and has a more prolonged and slow-growing progression. The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin s lymphoma, which typically affects young adults and the elderly, and non-Hodgkin s lymphoma, which affects mainly the elderly but also some adolescents. Multiple myeloma is a type of lymphoma which mainly affects older people and is characterised by infiltration of the bones with the cancerous cells. People with multiple myeloma typically have pain in the bones, a raised level of calcium in the blood, infection or kidney failure.