Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Hematology. In this article, we delve into Leukemia: Types and Treatments, exploring the latest advancements and essential information.
Leukemia is a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. It usually involves the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells.
The main types are categorized by how fast they progress (acute vs. chronic) and which type of white blood cell is involved (lymphocytic vs. myelogenous). The four most common types are ALL, AML, CLL, and CML.
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) treatment was revolutionized by the introduction of targeted therapies called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as imatinib (Gleevec). These drugs specifically target the abnormal protein causing the cancer, turning a once-fatal disease into a manageable chronic condition for many.