Disease Information & Support

www.lls.org/diseaseinformation

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Researchers study every new drug or treatment in clinical trials before it becomes an approved therapy.

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Leukemia

What Is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, the spongy center of bones where our blood cells are formed. The disease develops when blood cells produced in the bone marrow grow out of control.

An estimated 47,150 new cases of leukemia are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2012.

Common Types of Leukemia

The four most common types of leukemia are:

Each main type of leukemia is named according to the type of cell that's affected (a myeloid cell or a lymphoid cell) and whether the disease begins in mature or immature cells.

Other types of leukemia and related disorders include:

After diagnosis and treatment, many people with leukemia live many good, quality years. You may find that knowing more about the disease and its treatment can help you cope.

LLS Support Services

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) offers many ways to help you cope, from live telephone support to family support groups to online chats and more. To learn more about our free programs for patients, family members and caregivers, see Get Information and Support.

We also offer free informational publications and education programs, such as:

Source: Understanding Leukemia.

last updated on Monday, May 20, 2013
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