<a name="top"></a>Questions
<a href="#1">1. What is leukemia?</a> 
<a href="#2">2. What are the symptoms? </a>
<a href="#3">3. How is it diagnosed? </a>
<a href="#4">4. How is it treated? </a>
<a href="#5">5. How effective is treatment for leukemia? </a>
<a href="#6">6. How many people get leukemia? </a>
<a href="#7">7. How do people get leukemia? </a>
<a href="#8">8. What can I do? </a>
<a href="#9">9. Where can I go to learn more?</a> 
Answers 
<a name="1"></a>1. What is leukemia? 
Leukemia is a type of cancer. This cancer starts in the bone marrow, the soft center of the bones, but can spread to the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, brain and other organs. It causes the uncontrolled growth of abnormal blood cells. 
There are four common types of leukemia, grouped by which blood cells are affected and how quickly the disease progresses: 
<ul>
 <li>Acute lymphocytic leukemia affects lymphoid cells and progresses quickly. </li>
 <li>Acute myeloid leukemia affects myeloid cells and progresses quickly. </li>
 <li>Chronic lymphocytic leukemia affects lymphoid cells and progresses slowly. </li>
 <li>Chronic myeloid leukemia affects myeloid cells and progresses slowly. </li>
</ul>
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<a name="2"></a>2. What are the symptoms? 
The abnormal blood cells that result from leukemia can't do the work of normal blood cells, such as fighting infections, carrying oxygen to the body's organs and controlling bleeding. 
The symptoms of leukemia are a direct reflection of the lost blood cell function. They include frequent infections, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite and/or weight, easy bleeding or bruising, swollen or bleeding gums, bone or joint pain, and swollen or tender lymph nodes. 
Symptoms are more likely in acute leukemia. Chronic leukemia progresses so slowly that it's usually discovered during a routine checkup before any symptoms appear. 
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<a name="3"></a>3. How is it diagnosed? 
A medical history, physical exam and blood test together can usually pinpoint leukemia. A sample of bone marrow, the soft, inside portion of bones, is used to find out the type of leukemia. 
Chest x-rays and/or a spinal tap (drawing a sample of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) can help determine if leukemia has spread. 
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<a name="4"></a>4. How is it treated? 
Leukemia may be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplantation and/or biological therapy. The right treatment depends on the type of leukemia, certain features of the cancer cells, how far the disease has spread, whether the leukemia has been treated before, and the age, health and symptoms of the person being treated. 
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<a name="5"></a>5. How effective is treatment for leukemia? 
Survival rates vary by age, general health, type of leukemia and how early the disease is detected. The <a href="http://www.netreturns.biz/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=leukemia" target="_blank">Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society</a> reports that from 2009 to 2015 the overall five-year relative survival for acute lymphocytic leukemia was 72.1% and 92.5% for children younger than 15 years. Survival rates for acute myeloid leukemia were 29.8% overall and 70.6% for people younger than 15 years. For chronic lymphocytic leukemia the rate was 88.6%, and for chronic myeloid leukemia it was 71.7%.
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<a name="6"></a>6. How many people get leukemia? 
In 2023, an estimated 59,610 new cases of leukemia (all types) were expected to be diagnosed in the United States, according to the <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=cancersoc" target="_blank">American Cancer Society</a>. 
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<a name="7"></a>7. How do people get leukemia? 
The cause of leukemia remains unknown. Although some risk factors have been identified, they don't contribute to most cases of the disease. 
Known risk factors include: 
<ul>
 <li>Smoking. </li>
 <li>Exposure to high amounts of high-energy radiation. </li>
 <li>Long-term exposure to herbicides or pesticides. </li>
 <li>Some genetic diseases and conditions, such as Down syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome and Klinefelter's syndrome. </li>
 <li>Long-term exposure to the chemical benzene. </li>
 <li>Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. </li>
 <li>Previous treatment with radiation or chemotherapy for other cancers. </li>
</ul>
Most cases of leukemia occur in adults over 55, but it is the most common cancer in children younger than 15. The disease is slightly more common in males than in females. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is more common in white people than in African Americans, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia is more common in North America and Europe than in Asia.
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<a name="8"></a>8. What can I do? 
Because so little is known about the cause of leukemia, little can be done to prevent it. The only two exceptions are smoking and exposure to benzene. These factors increase the risk of leukemia and can be avoided. 
Because no screening tests are available, the best way to detect leukemia early is to report symptoms to your doctor right away. 
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<a name="9"></a>9. Where can I go to learn more? 
To find out more about leukemia, visit the <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/Topic.aspx?TopicID=344c2556-8be7-4b97-a886-83b58a46bb79">Leukemia</a> health topic center. 
You can also learn more about leukemia by visiting these websites: 
<ul>
 <li><a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=cancersoc" target="_blank">The American Cancer Society</a>. </li>
 <li><a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=leukemia" target="_blank">The Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society</a>. </li>
</ul>
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Reviewed 6/21/2023

Leukemia 101

Leukemia attacks blood cells where they grow, in the blood marrow. It can be treated but usually not prevented.