New Cases of Leukemia: In 2014, 52,380 people are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia.
Prevalence: There are an
estimated 327,520 people living with, or in remission from, leukemia in the US.
Survival
· - The overall five-year relative survival rate for leukemia has
more than quadrupled since 1960. From 1960 to 1963, the five-year relative
survival rate among whites (only data available) with leukemia was 14 percent.
From 1975 to 1977, the five-year relative survival rate for the total
population with leukemia was 34.2 percent, and from 2004 to 2010, the overall
relative survival rate was 60.3 percent.
· - From 2004-2010, the five-year relative survival rates overall
were
o
CML - 59.9 percent
o
CLL - 83.5 percent
o
AML - 25.4 percent overall
and 66.3 percent for children and adolescents younger than 15 years
o
ALL - 70 percent overall,
91.8 percent for children and adolescents younger than 15 years, and 93 percent
for children younger than 5 years.
Deaths
• - In 2014, 24,090 people are
expected to die from leukemia (14,040 males and 10,050 females).
• - In 2007-2011, leukemia was
the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in men and the sixth most common
in women in the US.
Below are the stories of two beautiful and strong current leukemia survivors. Testimonies such as theirs give us hope despite the intimidating numbers presented above.
Sources: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society
Key article:
LLS 2014-2015 Facts Sheet
