Leukaemia blood cells Coloured scanning electron micrograph SEM of blood cells filtered from a patient suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia a form of cancer The disease results from an increase in circulating levels of white blood cells lymphocytes light pink This causes a reduction in red blood cells erythrocytes red and other blood components Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia may develop slowly over several years with no symptoms but it can cause enlargement of the liver and spleen and anaemia Treatment in severe cases includes anticancer drugs and radiotherapy with antibiotics to combat infection Magnification x at xcm size