Facts and Statistics
Leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are types of cancer that can affect the bone marrow, the blood cells, the lymph nodes and other parts of the lymphatic system. These cancers are all related since each are likely a result from acquired changes to the DNA of a single stem cell.
These facts and statistics are the most recent data (2011) from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program, Cancer Statistics Review (CSR) 1975-2008. The CSR reports cancer incidence, prevalence, survival and death statistics. For a more detailed explanation of the SEER data, download or order The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS's) free publication Facts 2012.
New Cases (Incidence)
Incidence is the number of newly diagnosed cases for a specific cancer or for all cancers combined during a specific time period:
- One person in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer approximately every four minutes.
- An estimated combined total of 140,310 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma* in 2011.
- New cases of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma will account for 9 percent of the 1,596,670 new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States this year.
*MDS were included in the SEER statistics as separate entities beginning in 2007. Limited data are available.
Incidence rates are usually presented as a specific number per 100,000 population. Overall incidence rates reported in 2011, per 100,000 population, are:
- leukemia, 12.5 cases
- non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 19.8 cases
- Hodgkin lymphoma, 2.8 cases
- MDS, 4.4 cases
- myeloma, 5.7 cases
Prevalence
Prevalence is the estimated number of people alive on a certain date in a population who previously had a diagnosis of the disease. An estimated 1,012,533 people in the United States are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma.
Survival
Relative survival compares the survival rate of a person diagnosed with a disease to that of a person without the disease. The most recent survival data available may not fully represent the outcomes of all current therapies and, as a result, may underestimate survival to a small degree.
Deaths
In general, the likelihood of dying from most types of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma decreased from 1998 to 2008 (the most recent data available):
- Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are expected to cause the deaths of an estimated 53,010 people in the United States this year (2011).
- These diseases are expected to account for nearly 9.3 percent of the deaths from cancer in 2011, based on the total of 571,950 cancer deaths.
More to Explore
Resource Center Related Links:
under Free Education Materials (6):
- 2013 Advocacy Brochure
- Angiogenesis
- Blood Cells/Lymphatic System
- Each New Day
- Facts Spring 2013
- Understanding Lab and Imaging Tests
under Suggested Reading (9):
- And Thou Shalt Honor: A Caregivers Companion
- Cancer Fitness: Exercise Programs for Patients and Survivors
- Charlie's Cancer Rescue
- Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness
- Instructional DVD: How to Give Comfort through Touch and Massage to a Loved One with Cancer
- It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
- The Hope Tree: Kids Talk about Breast Cancer
- The Survivor Meditations (Audio Compact Disc)
- You and a Death in Your Family
