Home / Myth Busters / Leukaemia (blood cancer)
Leukaemia myths,
answered with evidence.
లుకేమియా (బ్లడ్ క్యాన్సర్) – అపోహలు, నిజాలు
Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. Many leukaemias, including most childhood ALL, can be cured, and others can be controlled for years with tablets. This series explains the warning signs, the tests, the different types and modern treatment.
When to see a doctor
Signs that need a blood count
- Fevers that keep coming back, or won't settle
- Unusual paleness, tiredness or breathlessness
- Easy bruising, tiny red spots on the skin, or bleeding gums or nose
- Bone or joint pain, especially in a child
- Repeated infections, or infections that are slow to clear
Read more: Frequent fever always means an ordinary infection?
Sudden or severe symptoms need emergency care: go to the nearest emergency department or call 108.
20 myths · Updated October 2026
Causes, symptoms and early detection
Blood cancer is always hereditary?
రక్త క్యాన్సర్ ఎప్పుడూ వంశపారంపర్యంగా వస్తుందా?Most leukaemias are not inherited. Some genetic conditions and family tendencies raise the risk, but most cases occur without any strong family history.
Read the factsMyth #02 · Causes & symptomsLeukaemia occurs only in children?
లుకేమియా పిల్లలకు మాత్రమే వస్తుందా?Leukaemia affects all ages. ALL is the most common childhood cancer, while AML, CLL and CML are more common in adults.
Read the factsMyth #03 · Causes & symptomsLeukaemia always causes a very high white blood cell count?
లుకేమియాలో తెల్ల రక్త కణాల లెక్క ఎప్పుడూ చాలా ఎక్కువగా ఉంటుందా?The white cell count may be high, normal or even low at diagnosis. Some people mainly have anaemia or low platelets.
Read the factsMyth #04 · Causes & symptomsFrequent fever always means an ordinary infection?
తరచుగా జ్వరం వస్తే అది ఎప్పుడూ మామూలు ఇన్‌ఫెక్షనేనా?Most fevers are infections. But fever that persists or keeps returning without explanation, especially with paleness, bruising, bleeding or tiredness, needs a blood count.
Read the factsMyth #05 · Causes & symptomsIf there are no swollen lymph nodes, leukaemia is impossible?
లింఫ్ గ్రంథులు ఉబ్బకపోతే లుకేమియా అసాధ్యమా?Leukaemia can occur without any swollen nodes. Its symptoms often come from the bone marrow not working properly.
Read the factsDiagnosis and disease classification
A normal haemoglobin level rules out leukaemia?
హీమోగ్లోబిన్ మామూలుగా ఉంటే లుకేమియా లేనట్టేనా?Haemoglobin can be normal in some people, especially early in the disease. Diagnosis needs the full blood count, a blood smear and other tests.
Read the factsMyth #07 · Diagnosis & classificationA routine blood test alone can identify every type of leukaemia?
మామూలు రక్త పరీక్ష ఒక్కటే ప్రతి రకం లుకేమియానూ గుర్తించగలదా?A blood count can raise suspicion, but identifying the exact type usually needs a blood or bone marrow examination, flow cytometry and genetic tests.
Read the factsMyth #08 · Diagnosis & classificationA bone marrow test makes leukaemia spread?
ఎముక మజ్జ పరీక్ష చేస్తే లుకేమియా పాకుతుందా?A bone marrow examination is a standard, safe test, and it does not make leukaemia spread.
Read the factsMyth #09 · Diagnosis & classificationAll leukaemias are the same disease?
అన్ని లుకేమియాలూ ఒకే జబ్బా?ALL, AML, CLL and CML differ greatly in their biology, treatment, outlook and course.
Read the factsMyth #10 · Diagnosis & classificationChronic leukaemia always turns into acute leukaemia?
క్రానిక్ లుకేమియా ఎప్పుడూ అక్యూట్ లుకేమియాగా మారుతుందా?Without effective treatment, CML can progress to a more aggressive phase. CLL is different: it does not usually turn into acute leukaemia, though occasionally it changes into an aggressive lymphoma.
Read the factsTreatment
Every leukaemia patient needs chemotherapy immediately?
ప్రతి లుకేమియా రోగికీ వెంటనే కీమోథెరపీ అవసరమా?Acute leukaemias usually need prompt specialist treatment. Some people with CLL and no symptoms can be monitored, and CML is usually treated with tablets.
Read the factsMyth #12 · TreatmentEvery leukaemia patient needs a bone marrow transplant?
ప్రతి లుకేమియా రోగికీ బోన్ మ్యారో ట్రాన్స్‌ప్లాంట్ అవసరమా?A stem cell (bone marrow) transplant is recommended only for selected patients, based on the leukaemia type, its genetic risk, the response to treatment and other factors.
Read the factsMyth #13 · TreatmentLeukaemia can never be cured?
లుకేమియా ఎప్పటికీ నయం కాదా?Most children with ALL can be cured. Some people with AML and other leukaemias also achieve long-term remission or cure. Outcomes vary greatly by type and risk.
Read the factsMyth #14 · TreatmentChemotherapy is the only treatment for leukaemia?
లుకేమియాకు కీమోథెరపీ ఒక్కటే చికిత్సా?Targeted medicines, antibodies, immunotherapy, cell therapies and stem cell transplants all have important roles in particular leukaemias.
Read the factsMyth #15 · TreatmentIf leukaemia returns after treatment, nothing can be done?
చికిత్స తర్వాత లుకేమియా తిరిగి వస్తే ఏమీ చేయలేమా?Leukaemia that returns may be treated with further chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy or a transplant, depending on the disease and the person.
Read the factsModern treatment and survivorship
CML patients always need lifelong hospital-based chemotherapy?
సీఎంఎల్ రోగులకు ఎప్పుడూ జీవితాంతం ఆసుపత్రిలో కీమోథెరపీ అవసరమా?Most people with CML take targeted tablets at home, and are monitored with a regular BCR::ABL1 blood test. Some carefully selected patients can try stopping treatment under close supervision.
Read the factsMyth #17 · Modern treatment & survivorshipA normal blood count means leukaemia has completely disappeared?
రక్త కణాల లెక్క మామూలుగా ఉంటే లుకేమియా పూర్తిగా పోయినట్టేనా?Normal blood counts don't always mean the leukaemia has gone. Highly sensitive tests for minimal residual disease (MRD) may be essential.
Read the factsMyth #18 · Modern treatment & survivorshipBlood transfusions can cure leukaemia?
రక్తం ఎక్కిస్తే లుకేమియా నయమవుతుందా?Transfusions support people with anaemia or low platelets, but they do not destroy leukaemia cells.
Read the factsMyth #19 · Modern treatment & survivorshipChildren cured of leukaemia can't lead normal adult lives?
లుకేమియా నుంచి నయమైన పిల్లలు పెద్దయ్యాక మామూలు జీవితం గడపలేరా?Many childhood leukaemia survivors live healthy, productive lives, although some need monitoring for late effects on the heart, growth, fertility and other functions.
Read the factsMyth #20 · Modern treatment & survivorshipLeukaemia patients must avoid all physical activity and social contact?
లుకేమియా రోగులు అన్ని శారీరక పనులకూ, ఇతరులను కలవడానికీ దూరంగా ఉండాలా?Activity and time with others can often continue with sensible precautions. Restrictions depend on blood counts, infection risk, the phase of treatment and the person's condition.
Read the facts