Leukemia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Leukemia?
A hematologist (a doctor who treats blood disorders) or an oncologist (a doctor who treats cancer) usually leads care for leukemia. These doctors use blood tests and bone marrow tests to diagnose leukemia. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is leukemia?
Leukemia is a term for cancers of the blood cells. It starts in blood-forming tissues such as the bone marrow, the soft tissue in the center of the bones where blood cells are made.
Bone marrow makes the cells that develop into white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. White blood cells help your body fight infection. Red blood cells deliver oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and organs. Platelets help form clots to stop bleeding.
With leukemia, the bone marrow makes large numbers of abnormal cells. This most often happens with white blood cells. The abnormal cells build up in the bone marrow and blood. They crowd out the healthy blood cells and make it hard for your cells and blood to do their work.
The type of leukemia depends on which blood cell becomes cancer and whether it grows quickly or slowly. Acute leukemia is fast growing. Chronic leukemia is slow growing. The main types are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of leukemia may include:
- Feeling tired.
- Fever or night sweats.
- Easy bruising or bleeding.
- Weight loss or loss of appetite.
- Petechiae, which are tiny red dots under the skin caused by bleeding.
Other symptoms can be different from type to type. Chronic leukemia may not cause symptoms at first. Life-threatening symptoms can develop as normal blood cells decline.
Causes and who gets it
Leukemia happens when there are changes in the genetic material, called DNA, in bone marrow cells. The cause of these genetic changes is unknown.
Your risk of leukemia goes up as you age. Leukemia occurs most often in adults older than 55. It is also the most common cancer in children younger than 15.
Each type tends to affect certain ages. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children, but it can also affect adults. Acute myeloid leukemia is more common in older adults but can also affect children. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults and often occurs during or after middle age. Chronic myeloid leukemia usually occurs in adults during or after middle age.
How doctors diagnose it
Your health care provider may use many tools to diagnose leukemia:
- A physical exam and a medical history.
- Blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC), which counts the cells in your blood.
- Bone marrow tests. Bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy both remove a sample of bone marrow and bone, which is sent to a lab for testing.
- Genetic tests to look for gene and chromosome changes.
After a diagnosis, you may need more tests to see whether the cancer has spread. These include imaging tests and a lumbar puncture, a procedure to collect and test the fluid around the brain and spinal cord.
Treatment
Treatment depends on which type you have, how severe the leukemia is, your age, your overall health, and other factors. Some possible treatments are:
- Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to treat cancer.
- Radiation therapy.
- Chemotherapy with a stem cell transplant.
- Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells.
The National Cancer Institute keeps a list of cancer drugs approved by the FDA for leukemia. Your cancer doctor can explain which options fit your type of leukemia.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you have symptoms such as feeling tired, fever or night sweats, easy bruising or bleeding, weight loss, or tiny red dots under the skin. A doctor can use blood tests to look into these symptoms.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have bleeding that will not stop, trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or a sudden change in mental state.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Such a doctor can do an exam, order first blood tests, and refer you to a blood or cancer specialist. They can also help coordinate follow-up care.
Common questions
What is the difference between acute and chronic leukemia?
Acute leukemia is fast growing, while chronic leukemia is slow growing. Acute leukemia usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated. Chronic leukemia usually gets worse over a longer period of time.
What causes leukemia?
Leukemia happens when there are changes in the DNA of bone marrow cells, and the cause of these changes is unknown. Your risk goes up as you age.
Who is most likely to get leukemia?
Leukemia occurs most often in adults older than 55. It is also the most common cancer in children younger than 15.
How do doctors check for leukemia?
Doctors use blood tests such as a complete blood count and bone marrow tests. They may also use genetic tests to look for gene and chromosome changes.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Leukemia
- National Cancer Institute - Leukemia: Patient Version
- MedlinePlus - Leukemia (Medical Encyclopedia)
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
