Pass it On: It’s Leukemia National Awareness Month

Leukemia and lymphoma are both hematologic malignancies, meaning that they involve the blood or bone marrow. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that there will be 60,140 new cases of leukemia and 24,400 deaths in 2016. For lymphoma, the ACS estimates that 81,080 new cases and 21,270 deaths will occur in the United States in 2016.

Leukemia starts in a cell during of the production of blood cells in the bone marrow. During production, a certain cell—whether it be a white blood cell, red blood cell, or platelet—undergoes a change, and this new, malignant cell may be able to produce better than normal cells. Eventually these malignant cells stifle the development of normal cells resulting in deficiencies of normal cell production and body functions.

Visit the Leukemia Information Center

There are many types of leukemia and each type usually falls into either an acute (fast growing) or chronic (slow growing) disease, with each type having different outlooks and treatment options. The four main types of leukemia according to cell type and rate of growth are acute lymphocytic (ALL), chronic lymphocytic (CLL), acute myeloid (AML), and chronic myeloid (CML). Overall, leukemia incidence has increased slowly for many decades at 1.3% per year.

LEARNING MORE ABOUT LEUKEMIA

Knowledge is power. Are you facing a new diagnosis, recurrence, living with metastatic disease, or supporting a loved one through their cancer journey?

Sign up for monthly newsletters on leukemia or lymphoma here.
To find expanded information on the prevention, screening, and treatment of leukemia and lymphoma and to stay updated with the lasted news on these diseases, visit the leukemia and lymphoma (non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s) information centers.
Join ongoing discussions with other individuals affected by leukemia and lymphoma in the CancerConnect private online leukemia (chronic lymphocytic leukemia or chronic myelogenous leukemia) and lymphoma (Hodgkin ’s disease or non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) support groups.
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