How do normocytic normochromic anemia and leukemia go hand and hand?

Variable: Hi Great question, there's a deeper answer, but generally leukemias usually affect the white blood cell line, rather than the red blood cell lineage. What you're probably referring to is called "anemia of chronic disease". Elevated inflammatory mediators, like IL-6, impair both production and ability to incorporate iron into heme, which causes normocytosis and normochromia. Hope this helps