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Leukemia Facts

Leukemia is a type of cancer. Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases
that have two important things in common. One is that certain cells in the
body become abnormal. Another is that the body keeps producing
large numbers of these abnormal cells.
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood forming tissues and organs, primarily bone marrow and lymphatic tissues. Leukemia is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal white blood cells, which prevents the production of normal blood cells and platelets. This makes the body vulnerable to infections and increases the risk of anemia and bleeding.

What are the Types of Leukemia?
Who is at Risk for Leukemia?
What Causes Leukemia?
What are the Common Symptoms of Leukemia?
How is Leukemia Treated?
Where can I get more information on Leukemia?

Press Releases from UCHD on the local leukemia study:
08-30-2002 Leukemia Press Release
06-20-2002 Leukemia Press Release
05-08-2002 Leukemia Press Release
Health Commissioner's Letter to the Editor

What are the Types of Leukemia?
Leukemia can arise in either of the two main types of blood cells: myeloid (i.e. myelogenous leukemia) or lymphoid (lymphocytic leukemia), each of which can be acute or chronic. In most types of leukemia, the abnormal cells are white blood cells.

Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that results in the accumulation of immature, functionless cells in the marrow and blood. The marrow often can no longer produce enough normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Anemia, a deficiency of red cells, develops in virtually all leukemia patients. The lack of normal white cells impairs the body's ability to fight infections while the shortage of platelets results in bruising and easy bleeding.

Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly and allows greater numbers of more mature, functional cells to be made.

Below are the most common types of leukemia:

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of leukemia in young children. This disease also affects adults, especially those age 65 and older.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) occurs in both adults and children. This type of leukemia is sometimes called acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL).
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) most often affects adults over the age of 55. It sometimes occurs in younger adults, but it almost never affects children.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) occurs mainly in adults. A very small number of children also develop this disease.

Who is at Risk for Leukemia?
Each year, nearly 27,000 adults and more than 2,000 children in the United States learn that they have leukemia. Leukemia represents 2% of all adult cancers, with more than half of the cases in persons over age 60. Leukemia is the most common form of cancer among children, accounting for about one third of all childhood malignancies. Leukemia occurs more often in males than females, and among whites more often than non-whites.

The most common types of leukemia in adults are acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), with an estimated 10,600 new cases annually, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with some 7,000 new cases each year. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) affects about 4,400 persons each year. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) will account for about 3,800 cases this year. Other unclassified forms of leukemia account for the 5,000 remaining cases.

What Causes Leukemia?
The cause of leukemia is unknown, but researchers have found a number of risk factors which may increase a person’s chance of developing leukemia.

Exposure to large amounts of ionizing radiation (such as occurs from x-irradiation)
Certain drugs used in the treatment of cancer
Some chemicals (most notably benzene)
Genetic conditions, such as Down’s Syndrome and Fanconi’s Syndrome
Infection with the Human T-cell Leukemia Virus

It is suspected that many childhood leukemias may result from parental exposures before the time of conception or during early fetal development.

What are the Common Symptoms of Leukemia?
Early signs of Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) may be similar to those of the flu or other common diseases, such as a fever that won't go away, feeling weak or tired all the time, aching bones or joints, or swollen lymph nodes. Other common symptoms of leukemia may include:

Frequent infections
Loss of appetite and/or weight
Swollen or tender lymph nodes, liver, or spleen.
Easy bleeding or bruising, including swollen or bleeding gums.
Tiny red spots (called petechiae) under the skin.
Bone or joint pain.

Early signs of AML may be fever, chills, bleeding or bruising easily, swollen lymph nodes, and other symptoms similar to those of the flu, such as feeling weak or tired all the time, with aching bones or joints.

How is Leukemia Treated?
Treatment of leukemia depends on a number of factors including the type of leukemia, the extent of the disease, and the age and health of the patient.
Most patients are treated with chemotherapy, i.e. the use of anti-cancer drugs. Patients may also receive radiation therapy and/or bone marrow transplantation.

Where can I get more information on Leukemia?
Several respected organizations are available by post, phone, or via their website and can provide answers to many questions. Below are links to just a few that may act as a gateway to others.

American Cancer Society , 1-800-ACS-2345
Cancer Information Service (CIS): 1-800-4-CANCER
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society , the Society's Information Resource Center (IRC), 1-(800)-955-4572
National Cancer Institute , 1-800-4-CANCER

To leave a message, concern, or to ask a question about leukemia, please contact the Union County Health Department at (937) 642-0801 extension 24 or (888) 333-9461 extension 24.

anemia (a-NEE-mee-a):
A condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal.

lymph node (limf node):
A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Lymph nodes filter lymph (lymphatic fluid), and they store lymphocytes (white blood cells). They are located along lymphatic vessels. Also called a lymph gland.

petechiae (peh-TEH-kee-a):
Pinpoint, unraised, round red spots under the skin caused by bleeding.

lymphoid (LIM-foyd):
Referring to lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Also refers to tissue in which lymphocytes develop.

myeloid (MYE-eh-loyd):
Pertaining to, derived from, or manifesting certain features of the bone marrow. In some cases also pertains to certain types of non-lymphocyte white blood cells found in the bone marrow, including granulocyte, monocyte, and platelet lineages. Also called myelogenous.