There are four main types of leukaemia: (i) acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) (ii) acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) (iii) chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) (iv) chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) .
Risk factors: heredity, viruses, exposure to toxic chemicals, radiation exposure, chronic viral infections, age, Down Syndrome, exposure to human T cell lymphocytic virus (HTLV-1), use of commercial hair dyes, certain cancer therapies and environmental exposure to benzene.
Symptoms: pallor, fatigue, shortness of breath, weight loss, repeated infections, fever, easy bruising, slow healing cuts, bone and joint pain, nose bleeds and swollen lymph nodes.
