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What You Need To Know About™ Leukemia
    Posted: 03/31/2003



Introduction







What Is Leukemia?






Normal Blood Cells






Leukemia Cells






Types of Leukemia






Leukemia: Who’s at Risk?






Symptoms






Diagnosis






Treatment






Getting a Second Opinion






Preparing for Treatment






Methods of Treatment






Chemotherapy






Biological Therapy






Radiation Therapy






Stem Cell Transplantation






Side Effects of Cancer Treatment






Chemotherapy






Biological Therapy






Radiation Therapy






Stem Cell Transplantation






Supportive Care






Nutrition






Followup Care






Support for People with Leukemia






The Promise of Cancer Research






National Cancer Institute Booklets






National Cancer Institute Information Resources



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What Is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a type of cancer. Cancer is a group of many related diseases. All cancers begin in cells, which make up blood and other tissues. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.

Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. Leukemia is cancer that begins in blood cells.

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