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 Read information about the disease that Alyssa is struggling to fight: Leukemia* Leukemia is a malignant disease (cancer) that originates in a cell in the marrow. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of developing marrow cells. There are two major classifications of leukemia: myelogenous or lymphocytic, which can each be acute or chronic. The terms myelogenous or lymphocytic denote the cell type involved. Thus, four major types of leukemia are: acute or chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that results in the accumulation of immature, functionless cells in the marrow and blood. The marrow often can no longer produce enough normal red and white blood cells and platelets. Anemia, a deficiency of red cells, develops in virtually all leukemia patients. The lack of normal white cells impairs the body's ability to fight infections. A shortage of platelets results in bruising and easy bleeding. Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly and permits greater numbers of more mature, functional cells to be made. New Cases Among an estimated 30,800 new cases of leukemia in the United States this year, about equal proportions are acute leukemia and chronic types. Incidence rates for most types of leukemia are higher among males than among females, and higher among Americans of European as compared to African descent. Most cases occur in older adults; more than half of all cases occur after age 60. Leukemia usually strikes ten times as many adults as children. Leukemia is the most common cancer among children and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) accounts for 80 percent of the childhood leukemia cases. The most common types of leukemia in adults are acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), with an estimated 9,700 new cases annually; and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with some 8,100 new cases each year. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) strikes about 4,400 persons each year. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) will account for about 3,200 cases this year. Other unclassified forms of leukemia account for the remaining cases. Signs & Symptoms Signs of acute leukemia may include: easy bruising or bleeding (as a result of platelet deficiency), paleness or easy fatigue (as a result of anemia), recurrent minor infections or poor healing of minor cuts (as a result of impaired white cell function). These symptoms and signs are not specific to leukemia and may be caused by other disorders. They do however, warrant medical evaluation. A proportion of people with chronic leukemia may not have major symptoms and are diagnosed during a periodic medical examination. The diagnosis of leukemia requires examination of the cells in blood or marrow. Possible Causes Anyone can get leukemia. Leukemia strikes all ages and both sexes. The cause of leukemia is not known. Chronic exposure to benzene, usually in the workplace, has been established as a cause of acute myelogenous leukemia. Federal and State regulations have led to a reduction in such exposures. Extraordinary doses of irradiation can increase the incidence of AML, CML, or ALL but no relationship has been established with lower doses such as those present with diagnostic imaging procedures. The use of certain types of chemotherapy for the treatment of other cancers may increase the risk of later developing acute myelogenous leukemia. Treatment The aim of treatment is to bring about a complete remission. Complete remission means that there is no evidence of the disease and the patient returns to good health with normal blood and marrow cells. Relapse indicates a return of the leukemia cells and return of other signs and symptoms of the disease. For acute leukemia, a complete remission that lasts five years after treatment often indicates cure. Treatment centers are reporting increasing numbers of children and younger adults with leukemia in complete remission at least five years after diagnosis of their disease. Deaths In total, 21,700 persons will die from leukemia this year in the United States, approximately 12,100 males and 9,600 females. Death rates are distributed in proportions similar to the incidence rates. The number of anticipated deaths are approximately 5,100 from chronic lymphocytic leukemia; 1,400 from acute lymphocytic leukemia; 2,300 from chronic myelogenous leukemia; and 6,900 deaths from acute myelogenous leukemia. Other forms of leukemia (not listed here) account for 6,400 additional deaths. The leukemia death rate for children in the United States has declined 57 percent over the last three decades. Nonetheless, in children under age 15, leukemia causes more deaths in the United States than any other disease. Over the last 20 years, death rates for leukemia in the United States have fallen 21 percent for men and women under the age of 65. This decline in mortality reflects the strides being made in research and treatment of the disease. Survival The five-year survival rate for patients with leukemia has tripled in the last 40 years. In 1960, the survival rate was 14 percent, today the overall survival rate for patients with acute and chronic leukemia is 44 percent. The five-year survival rate for each specific disease differs. Acute lymphocytic leukemia survival is 58 percent; chronic lymphocytic leukemia survival is 71 percent; acute myelogenous leukemia survival is 14 percent, chronic myelogenous leukemia survival is 32 percent. The five-year survival rate for children with acute lymphocytic leukemia is 81 percent. The survival rate for children with acute myelogenous leukemia is 43 percent. There are an estimated 144,000 patients with leukemia in the United States. Get More Information Further details of treatment and supportive care and the beneficial and adverse effects of treatment may be obtained from the Society's informational booklets on acute myelogenous, acute lymphocytic, chronic myelogenous, chronic lymphocytic, or hairy cell leukemia. Information on the specific type of leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma can be obtained from The Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietySM Chapters by using Chapter Finder. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's toll-free public information resource line is (800) 955-4572. Contact the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Home Office, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605. The telephone number is (914) 949-5213. * Information from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 
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