Learn more about bone marrow, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and the lymphatic system.

Leukaemia is the name given to a group of cancers that develop in the bone marrow. Under normal conditions, the bone marrow contains a small number of healthy immature blood cells (blast cells) which mature and develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, which are eventually released into the bloodstream.

Lymphoma is the general name for cancers that develop in the lymphatic system.

Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells (mature B-lymphocytes), which are a type of white blood cell that form part of the immune system. Myeloma may also be called multiple myeloma or plasma cell myeloma. 

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of blood cancers in which the bone marrow makes too many cells (either red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets). MPNs used to be called myeloproliferative disorders.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of blood cancers which affect the production of normal blood cells in the bone marrow. MDS is sometimes referred to as myelodysplasia.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the name given to a group of cancers that develop from B-lymphocytes (B-cells), T-lymphocytes (T-cells) and natural killer cells (NK cells).

Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is cancer of the lymphatic system, part of the immune system, and mainly affects the lymphocytes. Hodgkin lymphoma differs from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in that it is characterised by the presence of a particular cancer cell, known as the Reed-Sternberg cell.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a type of leukaemia that affects developing myeloid cells. CML usually develops slowly during the early stages of disease.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of leukaemia and is a cancer of the myeloid cells. AML causes an overproduction of abnormal blast cells (immature white blood cells) which crowd bone marrow and prevent it from making normal blood cells.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukaemia in New Zealand, with approximately 300 people diagnosed every year. CLL is more common with age. The majority of people are over 50 years old when they are diagnosed.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. ALL occurs when the bone marrow makes too many immature white blood cells, called lymphoblasts or leukaemic blasts.