When it develops slowly it is called chronic leukemia and when it develops quickly it is called acute leukemia. Acute leukemia is the type most often found in children. The causes of most cases of leukemia are not known. Leukemia can be difficult to diagnose early because the symptoms often look like those of other, less serious, conditions. Early symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, paleness, bruising easily and repeated infections.
Doctors make the diagnosis through blood tests and examinations of bone marrow.
Chemotherapy is the most effective treatment and research in leading medical centers in the United States, including the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center , continues to bring about new and better drugs for treating leukemia patients. The Cancer Center has a special clinic devoted to leukemia with a number of medical experts who collaborate on the care of each patient. This information is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.