CCS adapting to COVID-19 realities to support Canadians during and after the pandemic
Rare lymphocytic leukemias
The World Health Organization (WHO) uses the criteria below to classify a cancer that starts in lymphocytes as a lymphoma, a lymphocytic leukemia or a leukemia/lymphoma. They differ in where the abnormal lymphocytes are found.
- If the abnormal lymphocytes are found mainly in the blood or bone marrow, it is considered leukemia.
- If tumours develop in the lymph nodes or other organs, it is considered a lymphoma.
- If the disease is found in the blood or bone marrow and as a tumour, it is considered a leukemia/lymphoma.
Find out more about the following rare types of cancer that start from lymphocytes:
- prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL)
- T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (TLGL)
- aggressive NK-cell leukemia (ANKL)
- adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL)
- Sezary syndrome (the leukemia type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma)
How can you stop cancer before it starts?
Discover how 16 factors affect your cancer risk and how you can take action with our interactive tool – It’s My Life! Presented in partnership with Desjardins.
