# leukemia

/ɫuˈkimiə/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/leukemia
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a type of cancer that affects your blood and bone marrow. It causes your body to make too many white blood cells that do not work correctly.

For teachers: a group of malignant diseases characterised by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. These cells eventually suppress the production of healthy blood cells, leading to anaemia and immune deficiency.

## Examples

- The doctors are treating her leukemia with chemotherapy.
- Early symptoms of leukemia often include persistent fatigue, frequent infections, and easy bruising or bleeding.
- Advances in genetic sequencing have allowed oncologists to identify specific subtypes of leukemia, leading to more targeted therapies that significantly improve long-term survival rates.

## Usage notes

- Often used with 'acute' or 'chronic' to specify the speed of the disease's progression.

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