2. What is Leukemia? Leukemia is cancer of the blood. Often times, symptoms of Leukemia go unnoticed or do not appear at all in the early stages. Because there are multiple types of Leukemia, symptoms vary from person to person; a few of the common ones include, but are not limited to: Unexplained fever Persistent feeling of weakness Easy bruising or bleeding Shortness of breath Unintentional weight loss Anemia (low red blood cell counts)

3. Types of Leukemia Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Causes the body to make too many white blood cells. ALL gets worse quickly and is the most common leukemia in children. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) Causes the body to make many ineffective white blood cells. AML is more common in men, and cannot be inherited. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) Causes the body to make a large number of ineffective white blood cells. CLL gets worse slowly, and is most common in peopl over 60. Chronis myelogenous leukemia (CML) Causes the body to make too many white blood cells. CML is more common in men, and develops in stages.

4. What can cause Leukemia? While there is no definite cause of Leukemia, scientists have concluded that there are various risk factors that may make a person more susceptible to Leukemia, such as: Radiation (atomic bomb, radiation therapy, diagnostic x-rays) Smoking Benzine (found in cigarette smoke and gasoline) Down syndrome and other genetic disorders Gender and age (men are more likely to develop Leukemia than women, and the risk increases with age

5. Leukemia Statistics The median age of Leukemia diagnosis is 67 It is estimated that 47,150 will be diagnosed with Leukemia this year, and roughly one half will die The survival rate of Leukemia is approximately 55% 1 in 74 men and women will be diagnosed with Leukemia in their lifetime Leukemia is the most common cancer in children and teens 85% of children with leukemia survive

6. Treatment of Leukemia There is no proven cure for Leukemia. Treatment is based upon specific cases and varies from type to type. Generally, oncologists will treat Leukemia with: Chemotherapy which uses powerful medicines to destroy cancerous cells. Radiation which uses powerful x-rays to destroy cancerous cells Stem cell transplant which rebuilds a normal supply of healthy cells to boost the immune system Biological Therapy which uses medicine to build up the body’s natural defenses against cancer