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)
Taking action against all cancers
The latest Canadian Cancer Statistics report found that of all newly diagnosed cancers in 2017, half are expected to be lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancers. Learn what you can do to reduce the burden of cancer.
