Facts About Leukemia
• Leukemia accounts for 25% of all cancers in children and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths of children in the United States.
• Acute leukemia is more common in whites than in blacks, and in men than in women.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) accounts for about 7,000 new cases of leukemia each year. Most often, people diagnosed with the disease are over age 55. It almost never affects children.
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) accounts for about 4,400 new cases of leukemia each year. It affects mainly adults.
• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) accounts for about 3,800 new cases of leukemia each year. It is the most common type of leukemia in young children. It also affects adults.
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) accounts for about 10,600 new cases of leukemia each year. It occurs in both adults and children.