Is blood cancer the same as leukemia?

Jun 20, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Liu Feng

Introduction

In general, "blood cancer" in medical terms usually refers to leukemia. If experiencing any discomfort symptoms, it is recommended to seek timely treatment at a reputable hospital. If symptoms such as unexplained fever, fatigue, or bleeding tendencies occur, prompt medical attention is advised for diagnosis through professional methods such as blood tests and bone marrow biopsy. Under a doctor's guidance, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plans can be obtained.

Generally, in medical terms, "blood cancer" usually refers to leukemia. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely diagnosis and treatment at a regular hospital. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Leukemia, also known as blood cancer, represents different terms for the same disease. Blood cancer is a general term for malignant tumors of the hematopoietic system, while leukemia is a malignant clonal disease originating from hematopoietic stem cells. During onset, abnormal blasts and immature cells in the bone marrow proliferate extensively, suppressing normal blood cell production and infiltrating extramedullary organs such as the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, thereby causing a series of clinical manifestations including anemia, bleeding, and infection. According to disease progression speed and cell type, leukemia can be divided into acute leukemia and chronic leukemia, classifications consistent with those included under blood cancer. Clinically, blood cancer and leukemia also share the same presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment principles.

If symptoms such as unexplained fever, fatigue, or bleeding tendencies appear, timely medical consultation is necessary to confirm diagnosis through professional methods like blood tests and bone marrow biopsy. Under a doctor's guidance, accurate diagnosis and treatment plans should be obtained; self-diagnosis or discontinuation of medication must be avoided. Regular health monitoring, maintaining a balanced diet and moderate exercise are also important to support overall health.

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Is acute myeloid leukemia M5 type severe?

In general, acute monocytic leukemia (M5) is one of the subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia with relatively high malignancy and carries a serious overall prognosis. However, outcomes vary among individuals and are influenced by factors such as patient age, chromosomal abnormalities, and timing of treatment. After diagnosis, individualized therapy should be initiated promptly in a hematology specialty setting. Younger patients who meet the criteria should actively pursue hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

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Is acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4) severe?

Acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4 subtype) is a severe disease, with prognosis varying significantly among individuals. As one of the more serious subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia, M4 is characterized by abnormal proliferation of both granulocytes and monocytes, making it prone to severe complications. However, prognosis depends on factors such as patient age, cytogenetic features, and treatment strategies, leading to considerable individual variation.

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How long until a child with leukemia is truly considered cured?

In general, there is no absolute time point for the "cure" of childhood leukemia. Clinically, "5-year event-free survival" is used as the key criterion. This means that if a child completes standardized treatment and remains free of leukemia relapse and severe treatment-related complications for five consecutive years, with normal bone marrow and blood parameters, they are considered to have achieved clinical cure, after which the risk of recurrence is extremely low.

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How long can a patient with late-stage leukemia survive with blood transfusions?

In general, blood transfusions cannot prolong the overall survival of patients in the late stages of leukemia. They can only temporarily alleviate symptoms such as anemia and bleeding, potentially maintaining the patient's condition for 3 to 6 months, depending on the type of leukemia, the patient's baseline health status, and the severity of complications. In advanced leukemia, bone marrow hematopoietic function is severely impaired, often leading to severe anemia and extremely low platelet counts.