What is the difference between lymphocytic and myelocytic leukemia?

The leukemias that produce abnormal monocytes or granulocytes, which refer to a kind of white blood cell, are called myeloid or myelocytic leukemia. On the other hand, lymphoid or lymphocytic leukemia refers to those leukemias which produce abnormal lymphocytes. Leukemias can be chronic (lasting over 15 days) or acute (a sudden attack). Lymphocytic leukemia usually affects the type B white cells, and it is commonly found in children. You will most likely find acute myelocytic leukemia in adults, especially at old age. Lymphocytic leukemia is known to be characterized by lymph nodes enlargement in the body. This kind of leukemia occurs when there are large amounts of immature lymphocyte white blood cells or present in the circulation, thereby lacking the ability to fight infection, which is their primary function. As for myelocytic leukemia, it is characterized by abnormalities occurring in the white blood cells' granulocytes series such as basophils, neutrophils, and eosinophils.

One of the diseases that people dread is leukemia but there are a lot of people who are affected by this type of cancer. Leukemia will also have different kinds. Lymphocytic leukemia is a type of leukemia that will develop in the lymphocytes also known as white blood cells. Myelogenous leukemia, on the other hand, is a type of leukemia that may also start in the white blood cells but they may also begin affecting the red blood cells or the platelets first.

Myelogenous leukemia is considered to be more lethal between the two. Those who are diagnosed with this condition may be given a shorter time to live if the required treatments do not work anymore.