Leukaemia
Leukaemia means white blood and is the general term for a number of cancers derived from blood forming cells. These include the acute leukaemias, chronic leukaemias, lymphomas and multiple myeloma.
The acute and chronic leukaemias often start out in the bone marrow and before invading the blood can displace normal blood forming cells to such a degree that they present as anaemia. Eventually many tumour cells invade the blood and in certain leukaemias this is so severe that the bloody loses its normal red colour.
The lymphomas and multiple myeloma tend to form solid tumours in lymph glands, bone marrow or other tissues but often evolve into a leukaemic phase where the tumour cells invade the blood stream in large numbers.
For information on leukaemia research at QIMR select from the following:
More general information on leukaemia and related conditions can be obtained from the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia.