How common is leukemia?

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How common is leukemia?

In the year 2006 in the United States, about 35,000 new cases of leukemia are expected. It is the most common cancer in children. Leukemia causes an estimated 22,000 deaths each year.¹

The four main types of leukemia include:

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Most often, people diagnosed with the disease are older than 55. It almost never affects children.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). It affects mainly adults.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It is the most common type of leukemia in young children. It also affects adults.
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). It occurs in both adults and children. A subtype of AML is acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

References

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Citations
American Cancer Society (2006). Cancer Facts and Figures 2006, pp. 1–56. Atlanta: American Cancer Society. Available online: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/stt_0.asp.

Credits

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Author	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Editor	Alison Allen
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology
Last Updated	November 30, 2006

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Last updated:	November 30, 2006
Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC

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