MENULeukemia and Lymphoma Awareness
One person in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer -- such as leukemia or lymphoma -- approximately every three minutes.
- An estimated combined total of 156,420 people in the US are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2014.
- New cases of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are expected to account for 10.2% of the estimated 1,685,210 new cancer cases diagnosed in the US in 2016.
Leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are types of cancer that can affect the bone marrow, the blood cells, the lymph nodes and other parts of the lymphatic system.
The dramatic improvement in blood cancer treatment that began during the latter part of the 20th century is largely the result of chemotherapy. Research has led to the growing understanding of the many subtypes for each of the blood cancers, and the differences in therapy required based on subtype.
Source: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society®: Facts and Statistics [pdf]
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a general term for many blood cancers that originate in the lymphatic system. The two main types are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Some types of lymphoma are curable. For other types, many patients are able to keep their disease under control and have a good quality of life with medical treatment. Progress in treating lymphoma gives patients more hope than ever before.
Source: Lymphoma and Leukemia Society: Lymphoma.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, the spongy center of bones where our blood cells are formed. The disease develops when blood cells produced in the bone marrow grow out of control. The four major types are:
1. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
2. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
3. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
4. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
Source: Lymphoma and Leukemia Society: Leukemia
Although affecting approximately 10 times more adults than children, leukemia is the most common cancer among children, with ALL accounting for approximately 75% of all childhood leukemias.
The most common type of leukemia in adults is AML, followed by CLL, CML, and ALL.
Source: National Cancer Institute; Leukemia Information.
Prevention
Unfortunately, most cases of leukemia and lymphoma cannot be prevented. Real, known causes of leukemia and lymphoma have not been identified. There are possible risk factors for leukemia and lymphoma. For now, the best way to reduce the risk for leukemia and lymphoma is to try to prevent known risk factors.