Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a rare type of cancer. Affecting all age groups, but more common in people over 65. Macmillan Cancer Support estimates roughly 2,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with AML every year.

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Nobody knows how people contract AML. Normally, blood cells are made in the bone marrow. In people with AML this process goes haywire and leukaemia cells are produced. These are immature cells which will not develop into functioning blood cells.  



"In AML, too many early myeloid cells are made. In most types of AML, the leukaemia cells are immature white blood cells. In some less common types of AML, too many immature platelets or immature red blood cells are made.



The immature cells fill up the bone marrow, taking up space that’s needed to make normal blood cells. Some leukaemia cells ‘spill over’ into the blood and circulate around the body in the bloodstream. These leukaemia cells don’t mature, so don’t work properly. This leads to an increased risk of infection, as well as symptoms such as anaemia and bruising caused by fewer healthy red blood cells and platelets being made." - Macmillan Cancer Support



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