How common is each type of leukemia?
Each form of leukemia occurs at different rates in the population. CLL, the most common form, strikes about 10,000 people a year, while AML will be diagnosed in 8,000 people a year. Less common is CML, which will affect about 5,000 people a year, and ALL will be diagnosed in about 4,000 people this year.
However, leukemia can also affect children. The most common form of leukemia in children is ALL, which will be diagnosed in about 2,000 children this year.
Who is most at risk for developing leukemia?
For most cases of leukemia, the average age of onset is between the ages of 50 to 60. In children, leukemia is seen more often in younger children, generally between the ages of 2 and 4.
What causes leukemia?
The cause of leukemia is not completely understood, but we know that there are some risk factors for the development of leukemia, such as exposure to certain chemicals, such as chemotherapy or radiation. The vast majority of patients, however, don't have any clearly identifiable risk factor.
What are the symptoms of leukemia?
The symptoms of chronic leukemia can be pretty nonspecific: low grade fevers, fatigue, night sweats, occasionally some abdominal discomfort from an enlarged spleen. Occasionally, there is some loss of appetite or decreased weight. Patients oftentimes will have symptoms for three to six months of just some mild fatigue, maybe a low-grade fever, occasionally some night sweats.
