1. Take the Leukemia Quiz!

Medical Author:

Wendy Hu, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

In summary, the four main types of leukemia are as follows:

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Acute myelocytic leukemia
• Chronic myelocytic leukemia

Less common types include hairy cell leukemia and human T-cell leukemia.

Leukemia affects people of all ages. Approximately 85% of leukemias in children are of the acute type.

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) affects both children and adults but is more common in children. It accounts for 65% of the acute leukemias in children.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is essentially an adult disorder and is almost twice as common as chronic myelocytic leukemia.
• Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults.
• Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) is far more common in adults than in children.

As leukemic cells grow and eventually outnumber normal cells, the following events occur:

• The normal blood cells are disabled, resulting in conditions such as frequent infections, bleeding problems, poor healing of small cuts or sores, and anemia (low red blood cell count).
• The leukemia cells may collect in certain parts of the body, causing pain, swelling, and other problems.
• Identifying the type of leukemia is important, since this determines which treatment is given.

Leukemia is newly diagnosed in about 47,000 people each year in the United States.

• In adults, the acute leukemias occur in those of all ages, whereas the chronic varieties, particularly CLL, tend to occur in people older than 40 years.
• Leukemia is one of the most common cancers of children.
• Leukemia is more common in people of European descent than in African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, or Native Americans.

Survival rates in leukemia have risen dramatically in the last 40 years with improvements in diagnosis and treatment.

• In 1960, the overall 5-year survival rate for all leukemias was about 14%. It is now about 55%.
• The highest survival rates occur in children with the so-called "common" ALL type.

Must Read Articles Related to Leukemia

Bone Marrow Biopsy A bone marrow biopsy is performed to evaluate bone marrow function or to determine the cause of some infections, diagnose tumors, determine how far a disease, s...learn more >>

Cancer Symptoms Most symptoms and signs of cancer may also be explained by harmless conditions, so it's important to limit one's risk factors and undergo appropriate cancer scr...learn more >>

Cancer: What You Need to Know The news comes like a sledgehammer into the stomach: "I'm sorry to tell you, but you have cancer." Every year, a million Americans are devastated by news of can...learn more >>

See the Entire Leukemia Topic Guide »