Blood cancer types

Find information about:

Leukaemia

• Acute erythroid leukaemia
• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
• Acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia
• Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
• Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
• Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
• Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML)
• Childhood leukaemia
• Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL)
• Large granular lymphocytic leukaemia (LGLL)
• Mast cell leukaemia (MCL)

Lymphoma

• Burkitt lymphoma
• Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma
• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
• Double-hit lymphoma
• Follicular lymphoma
• Grey zone lymphoma
• High-grade B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (NOS)
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• MALT lymphoma
• Mantle cell lymphoma
• Nodal marginal zone lymphoma
• Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL)
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL)
• Skin lymphoma (cutaneous lymphoma)
• Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
• Splenic marginal zone lymphoma
• Triple-hit lymphoma
• Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM)

Myeloma

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN)

• Polycythaemia vera (PV)
• Essential thrombocythaemia (ET)
• Myelofibrosis

Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN overlap)

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)

Histiocytosis

• Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD)
• Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Mastocytosis

• Mast cell leukaemia (MCL)

Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects blood cells in your bone marrow – usually white blood cells. Read our leukaemia information online or order a booklet about your type of leukaemia.

Acute erythroid leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects your red blood cells. It is a sub-type of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Read our AML information online or order our booklet about AML.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a fast-developing type of blood cancer that affects cells called lymphoid blasts or lymphoblasts. Read our ALL information online or order our booklet about ALL.

Acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects your platelets. It is a sub-type of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Read our AML information online or order our booklet about AML.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a fast-growing type of blood cancer that affects myeloid blood cells. Read our AML information online or order our booklet about AML.

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is a type of blood cancer that affects cells called promyelocytes, which are white blood cells at an early stage of development. Read our APL information online or order our booklet about APL.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a slow-growing (chronic) blood cancer that affects white blood cells in your bone marrow called lymphocytes. Read our CLL information online or order our booklet about CLL.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a type of blood cancer that affects a group of white blood cells known as myeloid cells. Read our CML information online or order our booklet about CML.

Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called monocytes.

We are currently working on some new information about CMML. If you are affected by CMML, or you are a healthcare professional, please get in touch with Abi on [email protected] if you'd like to help shape the new information.

All our general information will also be helpful if you have CMML. We have information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer, watch and wait, and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about CMML. You can also find other people living with CMML in our online community forum.

Leukaemia is the most common cancer in children under 15. Over 650 children and young adults are diagnosed with leukaemia every year in the UK. Read our childhood leukaemia information online.

Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes.

We are currently working on some new information about hairy cell leukaemia. If you are affected by hairy cell leukaemia, or you are a healthcare professional, please get in touch with Abi on [email protected] if you'd like to help shape the new information.

In the meantime, all our general information will be helpful if you have hairy cell leukaemia. We have information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer, watch and wait, and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about hairy cell leukaemia. You can also find other people living with hairy cell leukaemia in our online community forum.

Large granular lymphocytic leukaemia (LGLL) is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes.

We are currently working on some new information about LGLL. If you are affected by LGLL, or you are a healthcare professional, please get in touch with Abi on [email protected] if you'd like to help shape the new information.

In the meantime, all our general information will be helpful if you have large granular lymphocytic leukaemia. We have information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer, watch and wait, and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about large granular lymphocytic leukaemia. You can also find other people living with large granular lymphocytic leukaemia in our online community forum.

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are an important part of your immune system. Read our lymphoma information online or order a booklet about your type of lymphoma.

Burkitt lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. Read our Burkitt lymphoma information online or order our booklet about Burkitt lymphoma.

Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that affects the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and eyes).

If you have central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma.

You can get more information about central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma from Lymphoma Action.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. Read our DLBCL information online or order our booklet about DLBCL.

Double-hit lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that has major changes (mutations) in two particular genes.

If you have double-hit lymphoma, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with double-hit lymphoma, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about double-hit lymphoma.

You can get more information about double-hit lymphoma from Lymphoma Action.

Follicular lymphoma is a type of slow-growing blood cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. Read our follicular information online or order our booklet about follicular lymphoma.

Grey zone lymphoma is a lymphoma has features of both Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

If you have grey zone lymphoma, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with grey zone lymphoma, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about grey zone lymphoma.

You can get more information about grey zone lymphoma from Lymphoma Action.

High-grade B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (NOS) is a type of high-grade lymphoma that does not fit into any of the other categories. It might have features of more than one other type of lymphoma.

If you have high-grade B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (NOS), it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with high-grade B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (NOS), read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about high-grade B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (NOS).

You can get more information about high-grade B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (NOS) from Lymphoma Action.

Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. Read our Hodgkin lymphoma information online or order our booklet about Hodgkin lymphoma.

We are currently working on some new information about Hodgkin lymphoma. If you have been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the last five years please get in touch with Grace on [email protected] if you'd like to help shape the new information. To make sure we reflect a diverse range of voices, we would particularly like to hear from young men diagnosed under the age of 30, people of any gender diagnosed over the age of 70, and people from a Black, Asian or ethnic minority background of any age or gender.

MALT lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. It is part of a group of blood cancers called marginal zone lymphomas.

We are currently working on some new information about MALT lymphoma. If you are affected by MALT lymphoma, or you are a healthcare professional, please get in touch with Abi on [email protected] if you'd like to help shape the new information.

In the meantime, all our general information will be helpful if you have MALT lymphoma. We have information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer, watch and wait, and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about MALT lymphoma. You can also find other people living with MALT lymphoma in our online community forum.

Mantle cell lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes.

We are currently working on some new information about mantle cell lymphoma. If you are affected by mantle cell lymphoma, or you are a healthcare professional, please get in touch with Abi on [email protected] if you'd like to help shape the new information.

In the meantime, all our general information will be helpful if you have mantle cell lymphoma. We have information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer, watch and wait, and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about mantle cell lymphoma. You can also find other people living with mantle cell lymphoma in our online community forum.

Nodal marginal zone lymphoma is a slow-growing type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

If you have nodal marginal zone lymphoma, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with nodal marginal zone lymphoma, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about nodal marginal zone lymphoma.

You can get more information about nodal marginal zone lymphoma from Lymphoma Action.

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a type of Hodgkin lymphoma.

If you have nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with NLPHL, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about NLPHL.

You can get more information about NLPHL from Lymphoma Action.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are an important part of your immune system. Read our non-Hodgkin lymphoma information online or order a booklet about your type of lymphoma.

Peripheral T cell lymphomas are types of blood cancer that affect T cells, which are part of your immune system. There are different types of peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL):

• Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
• Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, NOS
• Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-negative
• Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-positive
• Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL)
• Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

If you have a peripheral T cell lymphoma, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with a peripheral T cell lymphoma, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about peripheral T cell lymphoma.

You can get more specific information about the different peripheral T cell lymphomas from Lymphoma Action:

• Lymphoma Action - Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
• Lymphoma Action - Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS)
• Lymphoma Action - Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK-negative and ALK-positive)
• Lymphoma Action - Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL)
• Lymphoma Action - Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

Skin lymphoma (cutaneous lymphoma) is a type of lymphoma that develops in the skin and is not affecting any other areas of the body when diagnosed.

If you have skin lymphoma (cutaneous lymphoma), it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with skin lymphoma (cutaneous lymphoma), read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about skin lymphoma (cutaneous lymphoma).

You can get more information about skin lymphoma (cutaneous lymphoma) from Lymphoma Action.

Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. Although it has a different name, it is the same condition as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

SLL and CLL are two forms of the same illness. In SLL, the abnormal lymphocytes are mainly in your lymph nodes, whereas in CLL they are mainly in your blood and bone marrow.

SLL and CLL are treated in the same way. For information, read our CLL information online or order our booklet about CLL.

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma is a slow-growing type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that develops in the spleen.

If you have splenic marginal zone lymphoma, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with splenic marginal zone lymphoma, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about splenic marginal zone lymphoma.

You can get more information about splenic marginal zone lymphoma from Lymphoma Action.

Triple-hit lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that has major changes (mutations) in three particular genes.

If you have triple-hit lymphoma, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with triple-hit lymphoma, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about triple-hit lymphoma.

You can get more information about triple-hit lymphoma from Lymphoma Action.

Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM) is a slow-growing form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It affects blood cells called plasma cells. Read our WM information online or order our booklet about WM.

Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called plasma cells. Read our myeloma information online or order our booklet about myeloma.

Myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS for short, are a group of conditions where the bone marrow doesn’t work properly and produces faulty blood cells. MDS is a type of blood cancer. Read our MDS information online or order our booklet about MDS.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of different blood cancers. The three main types are polycythaemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and myelofibrosis, which are listed below.

Read our MPN information online or order a booklet about MPN.

Polycythaemia vera (PV) is a form of blood cancer. In PV, your body produces too many red blood cells. PV is one of several types of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Read our PV information online or order our booklet about PV.

Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is a slow-growing form of blood cancer. In ET, your body produces too many platelets (a type of blood cell). ET is one of several types of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Read our ET information online or order our booklet about ET.

Myelofibrosis is a type of blood cancer that causes scar tissue to form in your bone marrow (the spongy material inside some of your bones, where blood cells are made). Myelofibrosis is one of several types of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Read our myelofibrosis information online or order our booklet about MPNs including myelofibrosis.

MDS/MPN overlap syndromes are a group of blood cancers which combine features of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN).

The World Health Organisation classifies five conditions as MDS/MPN overlap syndromes:

• chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML)
• MDS/MPN-ring sideroblasts-thrombocytosis (MDS/MPN-RS-T)
• atypical chronic myeloid leukaemia (aCML)
• MDS/MPN-unclassifiable (MDS/MPN-U)
• juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML)

If you have an MDS/MPN overlap syndrome, you can order our booklets about myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) - but check with your doctor which chapters/pages are relevant for you from each booklet.

All our general information also will be helpful if you have MDS/MPN overlap syndrome. We have information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about MDS/MPN overlap syndrome. You can also find other people living with MDS/MPN overlap syndrome in our online community forum.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a blood condition that happens when plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) develop unusually in your bone marrow. MGUS is not cancer. Read our MGUS information online or order our booklet about MGUS.

Histiocytosis is the name of a group of blood disorders including some blood cancers where the body makes too many histiocytes. Histiocytes are a type of white blood cell that normally fight infections in the body. There are different types of histiocytosis:

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a slow-growing type of blood cancer that affects cells called histiocytes. Histiocytes are a type of white blood cell that normally fight infections in the body. In Erdheim-Chester disease, the body makes too many histiocytes and they begin to build up, causing symptoms in different parts of the body.

If you have Erdheim-Chester disease, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with ECD, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about Erdheim-Chester disease.

You can get more information about Erdheim-Chester disease from these organisations too (note these organisations are American not based in the UK):

• Erdheim-Chester disease Global Alliance
• Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society
• Histiocytosis Association

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a type of blood cancer that affects cells called Langerhans cells. Langerhans cells are a type of white blood cell that normally fight infections in the body. In Langerhans cell histiocytosis, the body makes too many Langerhans cells and they begin to build up, causing symptoms in different parts of the body.

If you have Langerhans cell histiocytosis, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

You can get more information about Langerhans cell histiocytosis from these organisations too (note these organisations are American not based in the UK):

• Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society
• Histiocytosis Association

Mastocytosis is a blood disorder where the body makes too many mast cells. Mast cells are part of the immune system and help the body fight infections. Some types of mastocytosis are blood cancers, like mast cell leukaemia.

Mast cell leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects your mast cells, which are part of your immune system.

If you have mast cell leukaemia, it might be hard to find other people who have it, or who know about it. But on the Blood Cancer UK forum you will find people with all types of blood cancer supporting and understanding each other, regardless of the specific types of blood cancer they have.

If you've been diagnosed with mast cell leukaemia, read our information about what happens after diagnosis, covid and blood cancer, side effects, living well with blood cancer and support for family and friends.

Our Support Service is also here for you - we can help you find out more information about mast cell leukaemia.