Final answer:
The diagnostic term for a type of cancer characterized by an abnormal increase in white blood cells is leukemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diagnostic term for a type of cancer characterized by an abnormal increase in white blood cells is leukemia.
Leukemia is a cancer involving an abundance of leukocytes, which are white blood cells. It can involve either one specific type of leukocyte from either the myeloid line (myelocytic leukemia) or the lymphoid line (lymphocytic leukemia). In chronic leukemia, mature leukocytes accumulate and fail to die. In acute leukemia, there is an overproduction of young, immature leukocytes. In both conditions, the cells do not function properly.
Symptoms of leukemia can include fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding. Treatment options are available that can prolong life and even cure the disease.