Leukemia What Is Leukemia Leukemia is cancer of

Leukemia

What Is Leukemia? ❏ Leukemia is cancer of the blood-forming tissues ❏ Begins in the bone marrow when abnormal blood cells are produced ❏ Usually involves white blood cells

Statistics from the United States ❏ 2019 Estimates for Leukemia ❏ In 2019, 61, 780 people are expected to be diagnosed with Leukemia. ❏ There an estimated 399, 967 people living with Leukemia in the United States. ❏ In 2019, 22, 840 people are expected to die from Leukemia.

Types of Leukemia ❏ Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia ❏ Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ❏ Acute Myeloid Leukemia ❏ Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia ❏ More common in children than adults ❏ Starts in the bone marrow with immature white blood cells ❏ Rapid onset ❏ Most common Leukemia type that affects children

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ❏ Accounts for ⅓ of all Leukemia cases ❏ Builds slowly over time; usually asymptomatic for a few years ❏ Can eventually spread to the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen ❏ Mainly affects older adults

Acute Myeloid Leukemia ❏ Most common in older adults ❏ Occurs when there is a DNA mutation in the bone marrow ❏ Can occur from inherited gene mutations, but most commonly occurs from acquired gene mutations ❏ Does not typically form tumors, but is widespread throughout the bone marrow, blood, and occasionally the liver or spleen

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia ❏ About 15% of Leukemias in adults are Chronic Myeloid Leukemia ❏ In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, a genetic change takes place in immature myeloid cells (the cells that make red blood cells, platelets, and most types of white blood cells)

Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia ❏ Very rare; only occurs in 4 of every 1, 000 people in the United States each year ❏ Many people with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia have too many monocytes ❏ Mainly affects older adults ❏ About 15% to 30% of people with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia later develop Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Leukemia in Children ❏ Leukemia is the most common cancer in children ❏ Most childhood Leukemias are acute; chronic Leukemias are rare in children ❏ Acute Leukemias can progress quickly, and should be treated right away. ❏ Chronic Leukemias progress at a slower rate, but can be more difficult to treat

Risk Factors ❏ Exposure to high levels of radiation ❏ Previous cancer treatment ❏ Genetic disorders ❏ Having a compromised immune system ❏ Family history of leukemia ❏ Exposure to certain chemicals ❏ Smoking

Tests and Exams ❏ If your doctor suspects Leukemia, he or she may: ❏ Ask for medical history ❏ Check for enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, and groin ❏ Check for an enlarged liver or spleen ❏ Do a complete blood count and blood chemistry test ❏ Do a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy

How to Test for Leukemia Type ❏ Biopsy of lymph, bone, and other tissues ❏ Blood test ❏ Cytogenetic analysis ❏ Immunophenotyping ❏ Chest x-rays ❏ CT scan ❏ Lumbar puncture

Treatment ❏ Chemotherapy: kills Leukemia cells using anti-cancer drugs ❏ Radiation therapy: kills cancer cells with high energy radiation ❏ Interferon therapy: slows the reproduction of Leukemia cells and promotes the immune system’s anti-leukemia activity ❏ Stem cell transplantation: aids in treatment with high levels of chemotherapy and radiation ❏ Surgery: to remove enlarged spleen or to install venous access device

Survival Rates ❏ The 5 -year relative survival rate for Leukemia has more than quadrupled from 1963 to 2014. ❏ From 2007 to 2013, the 5 -year relative survival rates were: ❏ Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: 71. 6%; 90. 6% for children under 15 ❏ Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: 86. 8% ❏ Acute Myeloid Leukemia: 28. 1% overall; 68. 8% for children under 15 ❏ Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: 68. 7%

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