+196 It's weird that we say lung cancer, ovarian cancer and skin cancer, but when it comes to "blood cancer", it's leukemia, amirite?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I think it's called that because one of the symptoms of leukemia is an increase in immature white blood cells which are also known as leukocytes.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Leuk- is a Greek derived word meaning white. Leukemia is associated with white blood cells, hence the name.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells. 'White-blood-cell cancer' seems more difficult to say than 'leukemia'.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

It saves you a whole syllable.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

But it is still more tedious to say and definitely to spell out.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I think at least one more person should say the same thing about the origin of the word Leukemia.

by Anonymous 12 years ago