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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) goes by many names, including acute
myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic
leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. "Acute" means that the
leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be
fatal in a few months.
AML is a cancer that starts in the cells that are supposed to
mature into different types of blood cells. AML starts in the bone
marrow (the soft inner part of the bones, where new blood cells are
made), but in most cases it quickly moves into the blood. It can
sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes,
liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and
testes. In contrast, other types of cancer can start in these organs
and then spread to the bone marrow (or elsewhere). Those cancers are
not
leukemia. Both children and adults can get leukemia.
Revised: 09/14/2007
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