Leukemias are cancers of the blood and bone marrow that can affect people of any age, though some people may be more likely to develop the conditions. Leukemia begins when blood stem cells in the bone marrow develop genetic mutations that cause leukocytes (white blood cells) to develop abnormally, grow too quickly, and avoid destruction by the immune system. Overproduced cancer cells multiply in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells, leading to symptoms of leukemia.
Here are some key facts and statistics about leukemia, based on current evidence from cancer research.
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