How is leukemia different from other cancers?

Leukemia is different than most of the other common cancers because it's a cancer of abnormal blood cells that arises in the bone marrow, the soft center of bones where new blood cells are formed. Since it affects the bone marrow and blood predominantly, leukemia is often referred to as a "liquid tumor." Most of the remaining common cancers are referred to as "solid tumors."

Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. White blood cells as well as red blood cells and platelets form in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft part of the middle of bones. Other cancers are usually limited to one organ like the bowel or lung. These other "solid" cancers may be removed with surgery. The drug therapies may also differ between other cancers and leukemia.