Leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma are all types of blood cancer, where abnormal cells reproduce, leading to very high numbers of abnormal clones. Leukemia can be acute or chronic. Acute leukemia rapidly advances with its high number of immature cells. But in chronic leukemia, the cells are mature and the disease is gradual. Lymphoma is a cancer of cells in your immune and lymphatic systems. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of your plasma cells.
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
B and T lymphocytes are white blood cells, and in ALL, these blood cells are immature. According to Charles Linker, M.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, ALL is usually found in children who are 3 to 7 years old. They will commonly feel tired but will usually also have a fever, bruise quite easily and may experience pain in their bones.
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
AML is referred to as myelogenous because the white blood cells in this leukemia are myelocytic; that is, they are immature neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. AML is a leukemia of adults, the average age being 60 years old. If you have AML, then you would tire easily, bruise easily and have fevers. You may also have frequent infections and have skin problems.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Dr. Linker writes in "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment" that this leukemia has high numbers of mature B lymphocytic white blood cells. This disease develops slowly, and is also a leukemia of adults, with the average age being 70 years old. Many do not have any symptoms, and only find out that they have CLL from the results of routine lab tests. But others may feel frequently fatigued and possibly have an enlarged spleen or liver.
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
CML is a leukemia of mature myeloid cells; in other words, mature neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. Like AML and CLL, this is also a leukemia of adults. The average age of someone with CML is approximately 55 years old. Early on in this disease, you may not have any symptoms or you may have fever, weight loss and find that you tire easily. If this disease is not treated, however, it rapidly progresses and acts like AML.
Hodgkin's Disease
Elizabeth Corwin, PhD, writes in "History of Pathophysiology" that this lymphoma is a disease of your lymph nodes and spleen. One of the common cancers of young males, this disease actually has two "peak" periods. It is found in those who are in their 20s and again in those over 50 years of age. If you have Hodgkin's, then you usually have fever, night sweats, weight loss, itching (pruritus) and enlarged, painless lymph nodes, usually in your neck.
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
In Non-Hodgkin's, the cancer spreads even without the lymph nodes being right next to each other, as is the case in Hodgkin's. So here, the disease spreads to include lymph nodes in different areas of your body and may also affect your spleen and bone marrow. You will have fever, night sweats and weight loss and enlarged, painless lymph nodes in various areas of your body.
Multiple Myeloma
According to James Berenson, M.D., Medical and Scientific Director of the Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research, the average age for multiple myeloma is 65 years old. Multiple myeloma is a cancer that involves your plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Because plasma cells have the job of making antibodies, as a result of multiple myeloma, you are susceptible to contracting infections. These plasma cells also destroy bone as they expand from your bone marrow. Thus, you will also have bone pain, usually in your back or your ribs. You may have anemia and develop kidney failure as well.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2009"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2009
- "Handbook of Pathophysiology"; Elizabeth Corwin, MSN, PhD, FNP; 2000
- The Merck Manual: Multiple Myeloma
