What You Should Know About LEUKEMIA What Is Leukemia? Leukemia Is Cancer That Forms in Blood Cells, and Bone Marrow

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What You Should Know About LEUKEMIA What is leukemia? Leukemia is cancer that forms in blood cells, and bone marrow. In most cases, leukemia forms in white blood cells, which help the body ght infection. Over time, these cancerous blood cells divide, crowding out healthy cells, making it dicult to get oxygen to the blood, ght infection and control bleeding. LEUKEMIA BY THE NUMBERS

THE 9TH MOST COMMON The most common cancer among non-skin cancer in the U.S. CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 15

In 2017, an estimated Most likely to occur in 62,000 NEW CASES of leukemia ADULTS OLDER THAN 55+ were diagnosed in the U.S.

PERCENT OF NEW CASES 9% 4.5% 4.7% 9.9% 17.8% 24.4% 20.8% 10.9%

by age 0-19 20-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

60.6% 3.7% 388,000 Percent of patients Percent of all new Estimated number surviving ve years U.S. cancer of people living after diagnosis diagnoses with leukemia

A CLOSER LOOK

Normal blood Leukemia Abnormal number of white blood cells WHITE BLOOD CELLS • Function incorrectly • Crowd out other cells Monocytes

Neutrophils

Lymphocytes

RED BLOOD CELLS Enthrocytes Lower number of platelets PLATELETS • Blood cannot clot

TYPES OF LEUKEMIA

Chronic vs. acute

Chronic leukemia Acute leukemia advances slowly and may not develops rapidly and may cause exhibit symptoms in early stages. a sudden onset of symptoms. Some patients may not even This type of leukemia often know they have chronic leukemia requires immediate and until they get a blood test. aggressive treatment.

COMMON TYPES OF CHRONIC LEUKEMIA COMMON TYPES OF ACUTE LEUKEMIA Chronic lymphocytic Chronic myeloid leukemia Acute lymphocytic Acute myeloid leukemia leukemia (CLL) is a (CML) is associated with an leukemia (ALL) (AML), the most common slow-growing cancer that abnormal chromosome develops when type of acute leukemia in begins in immune cells known as the Philadelphia abnormal white blood adults, occurs when the called lymphocytes. These chromosome, in which cells accumulate in the bone marrow makes cells develop in bone pieces of two bone marrow. These immature blood cells marrow, but eventually chromosomes break o cells divide rapidly, called myeloblasts. travel into the blood. CLL and trade places, forming replacing healthy cells Also known as acute myelogenous develops when too many a defective gene. and, in some cases, leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute granulocytic abnormal lymphocytes Also known as chronic myelogenous invade healthy organs. leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic grow, crowding out leukemia Also known as acute leukemia normal blood cells. lymphoblastic leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia

LEUKEMIA VS. LYMPHOMA Lymphoma and leukemia, often called liquid cancers or blood cancers, share a common origin—lymphocytes, or white blood cells of the immune system.

Leukemia is cancer of the Lymphoma is cancer of blood cells that usually the lymphatic system starts in bone marrow and that usually originates often travels through the in lymph nodes or, bloodstream. sometimes, the spleen.

BONE MARROW LYMPH NODES

Some liquid cancers may be considered either leukemia or lymphoma, depending on where they originate. For instance: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) a ect the same kind of cells—small lymphocytes—and are often considered di erent versions of the same disease.

RISK FACTORS

Not all risk factors for leukemia are known, and those that are may vary depending on the type of leukemia. COMMON RISK FACTORS FOR SOME TYPES OF LEUKEMIA INCLUDE:

SYMPTOMS

RADIATION CHEMICAL EXPOSURE EXPOSURE • Fever • Headaches

• Chills • Frequent infections • Fatigue • Easy bruising PREVIOUS CANCER INHERITED CANCER • Weakness or bleeding TREATMENTS SYNDROMES • Loss of • Frequent appetite nosebleeds

• Weight loss • Red patches on the skin • Night BIRTH LEUKEMIA IN THE sweats DISORDERS IMMEDIATE FAMILY (parents or siblings)

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Stem cell transplant to help stimulate production of healthy cells in the bone marrow

Chemotherapy Radiation therapy intended to kill fast to help kill cancer cells growing cells, including that have settled in aggressive cancer cells organs, such as the liver or spleen

Targeted therapy Immunotherapy to seek out and attack to help the immune only leukemic cells system recognize and attack cancer cells

For more information, visit cancercenter.com/leukemia

SOURCES National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society