Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming tissue, primarily the bone marrow, in which abnormal white blood cells multiply uncontrollably and crowd out healthy blood cells. It is broadly classified as acute (rapidly progressing) or chronic (slower-developing), and further divided into myeloid or lymphoid types based on the blood cell line involved. Diagnosis and precise subtyping guide whether chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or bone marrow transplant is recommended.
Understanding Leukemia
Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones where all blood cells are produced, including red cells that carry oxygen, white cells that fight infection, and platelets that help blood clot. In leukemia, a genetic change in an early blood-forming cell causes it to divide uncontrollably, flooding the marrow and bloodstream with immature or abnormal white cells. Because these abnormal cells crowd out normal blood cell production, patients often develop anemia, a higher risk of infection, and easy bleeding or bruising, even before any single symptom is recognized as leukemia.
Leukemia is grouped along two axes: how quickly it develops (acute versus chronic) and which cell line is affected (myeloid versus lymphoid). This gives four broad categories: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which is more common in children; acute myeloid leukemia (AML), seen more often in adults; chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), typically diagnosed in older adults, sometimes incidentally; and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), which is strongly linked to a specific genetic change called the Philadelphia chromosome. Each subtype behaves differently and responds to different treatment strategies.
Because outcomes and treatment choice depend heavily on the exact subtype, modern leukemia care relies on more than a blood count. Bone marrow examination, immunophenotyping, and genetic or molecular testing (for example, checking for the Philadelphia chromosome in CML or FLT3 and NPM1 mutations in AML) help classify the disease precisely and identify risk category, which in turn shapes whether standard chemotherapy, a targeted oral therapy, or transplant is the appropriate next step.
Signs of Leukemia to watch for
When to see a haematologist
Persistent fever without an obvious source, or fatigue that does not improve with rest, should be evaluated with a complete blood count rather than assumed to be routine tiredness.
Unusual bruising or bleeding that goes beyond minor cuts and scrapes warrants prompt blood testing.
When fatigue, recurrent infections, and pallor occur together in a child or adult, a referral to a clinical haematologist is appropriate.
An abnormal complete blood count found during a routine health check should be reviewed by a haematologist rather than repeated indefinitely without explanation.
Tests offered at the centre
Complete Blood Count and Peripheral Smear
An initial blood test that measures red cell, white cell, and platelet counts, followed by microscopic examination of the blood film to identify abnormal or immature cells suggestive of leukemia.
Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy
A sample of marrow is taken, usually from the hip bone, to confirm the diagnosis, estimate the proportion of abnormal cells, and provide material for further specialised testing.
Flow Cytometry (Immunophenotyping)
A laboratory technique that identifies specific marker proteins on the surface of leukemia cells, helping distinguish myeloid from lymphoid leukemia and refine the exact subtype.
Cytogenetics and Molecular Testing
Analysis of chromosomes and specific gene mutations (such as BCR-ABL1, FLT3, or NPM1) that identifies disease subtype, risk category, and eligibility for targeted therapies.
Treatment options
Your treatment plan is personalized to your diagnosis, subtype and overall health.
Chemotherapy Protocols
Combination chemotherapy regimens, selected according to leukemia subtype and internationally aligned protocols, aim to eliminate abnormal cells and restore normal blood cell production.
Targeted Therapy
Oral targeted agents, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors used in CML, are directed at the specific molecular change driving the leukemia, often with a different side-effect profile than conventional chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy
Treatments that help the immune system recognise and act against leukemia cells, used in select subtypes and treatment stages as part of a personalized treatment plan.
Bone Marrow / Stem Cell Transplant
For eligible patients, a transplant replaces diseased marrow with healthy stem cells from a matched donor, considered when chemotherapy alone is unlikely to achieve durable disease control.
Supportive Care
Blood and platelet transfusions, infection prevention, and management of treatment side effects are integrated throughout therapy to support overall health and treatment tolerance.
Why choose AP Blood & Blood Cancer Centre
AP Blood & Blood Cancer Centre is a single-specialty haematology practice, so leukemia is evaluated and managed in a focused clinical environment rather than as one of many unrelated conditions handled in a general medicine or oncology setting. This focus supports timely access to the specific tests, such as bone marrow examination, flow cytometry, and cytogenetics, that are needed to classify leukemia accurately before a treatment plan is finalized.
Care is led by Dr. Amarnadh Polisetty, MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DNB (Clinical Haematology), who has more than 7 years of experience in clinical haematology and has been part of specialist transplant teams that have managed over 500 bone marrow transplant patients, along with an ASH (American Society of Hematology) Abstract Award. Treatment planning for leukemia is personalized to the confirmed subtype and risk category and follows internationally aligned protocols, with the transplant pathway available for patients who need it.
Common questions about Leukemia
Medically reviewed by Dr. Amarnadh Polisetty, MD, DNB (Clinical Haematology)
Last reviewed on 1 July 2026
Concerned about these symptoms?
If you or a family member are experiencing persistent fatigue, unusual bruising, or recurrent infections, consult a clinical haematologist for a thorough evaluation.