What is acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

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What is acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a blood cancer that starts in your bone marrow. As part of your skeletal system, this spongy tissue inside your bones produces blood cells. The bone marrow produces three types of cell lines:

  • White blood cells.
  • Red blood cells.
  • Platelets.

White blood cells help your body fight infections. In people with AML, the bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells. These cancer cells are called myeloid blasts (myeloblasts).

AML quickly moves from the bone marrow into your bloodstream and can even involve other parts of your body. AML may spread to your lymph nodes, brain, liver, cerebral spinal fluid, skin, spleen or testicles as examples.

AML goes by different names. All of these are the same disease:

  • Acute myelocytic leukemia.
  • Acute myelogenous leukemia.
  • Acute granulocytic leukemia.
  • Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.
  • Acute promyelocytic leukemia

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