Medical Conditions

Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. White blood cells called leukocytes are where the name leukemia is derived from. In leukemia, leukocytes mutate before maturity and become cancerous. These deranged, immature cells start accumulating in the blood and within organs of the body and are no longer able to carry out the normal functions of blood cells. There are two major leukemias, myelogenous and lymphocytic, both of which include acute and chronic forms. The type of leukemia a patient has can be determined by the type of blood cell affected and the course of development. Chronic leukemia progresses slowly with few symptoms. Acute leukemia onsets suddenly and progresses rapidly usually requiring immediate hospitalization and treatment. Most childhood leukemia is acute: 75% of leukemia cases are of the acute lymphocytic type (ALL), 20% are acute myelocytic (AML).

Survival Rates

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): 66.3 percent overall; 90.9 percent for children under 5
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): 78.8 percent
• Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): 23.4 percent overall; 60.2 percent for children under 15
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML): 53.3 percent

Targeted Treatment
Treatment outcomes vary, even among patients with the same diagnoses. It's important that a patient diagnosed with any form of leukemia receive treatment from a doctor experienced in caring for patients with leukemia. There are many targeted treatment options for leukemia. Current survival statistics may not factor in the data of the new treatment options available. Clinical trials using new drug combinations or new uses of approved drugs along with better supportive care are contributing to better outcomes and quality of life for patients diagnosed with leukemia.

Types of Leukemia
The most common types of leukemia in adults are acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), with an estimated 12,810 new cases in 2009, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with about 15,490 new cases this year. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is estimated to affect about 5,050 persons this year. The most common type of leukemia in children is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), which will account for about 5,760 new cases this year.

Incidence by Gender, Race and Ethnicity
Leukemia is one of the top 15 most frequently occurring cancers in all races or ethnicities. For whites, the incidence of leukemia peaks between the ages of 3 and 5. For all other non-white populations the risk of leukemia remains constant up until age 20. Incidence rates are substantially higher for Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan natives, white and Asian/Pacific islander children than for African American children. In adults, males account for more than 57 percent of the new cases of leukemia. Leukemia incidence is highest among whites and lowest among American Indians/Alaskan natives, Asian and Pacific Islander populations. Leukemia rates are higher in Americans of European descent. AML and CML occurs most often in adults ages seventy and older. The Hispanic population has seen a dramatic increase in AML and CML above the age of 55 years.