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11 Facts About Leukemia and Other Blood Cancers

Welcome to DoSomething.org, a global movement of millions of young people making positive change, online and off! The 11 facts you want are below, and the sources for the facts are at the very bottom of the page. After you learn something, Do Something! Find out how to take action here.

  1. Approximately every 4 minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a type of blood cancer.^["Disease Information & Support." Facts and Statistics | The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.lls.org/diseaseinformation/getinformationsupport/factsstatistics/ (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  2. There are 3 main types of blood cancers: Leukemia, cancer that is found in your blood and bone marrow; Lymphoma, blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system; and Myeloma, blood cancer that specifically targets your plasma cells.^["American Society of Hematology." Blood Cancers. http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Cancers/ (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  3. Over 1 million Americans are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. Those with blood disorders are often in need of blood transfusions. Host a zombie-themed blood drive to keep your local blood bank stocked. Sign up for Zombie Blood Drive.^["Facts Spring 2014." Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. https://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/generalcancer/pdf/facts.pdf (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  4. Leukemia is the 10th most frequently occurring type of cancer in all races or ethnicities.^["Disease Information & Support." Leukemia | The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.lls.org/diseaseinformation/getinformationsupport/factsstatistics/leukemia/ (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  5. There are 2 main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma spreads in an orderly manner from one group of lymph nodes to another and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma spreads through the lymphatic system in a non-orderly manner.^["About Lymphoma." Lymphoma Research Foundation. http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=bkLTKaOQLmK8E&b=6299689 (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  6. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is the 6th most common cancer in males and 7th most common cancer in females in the US.^["Disease Information & Support." Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.lls.org/diseaseinformation/getinformationsupport/factsstatistics/nonhodgkinlymphoma/ (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  7. Approximately every 10 minutes, someone in the US dies from a blood cancer.^["Facts Spring 2014." Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. https://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/generalcancer/pdf/facts.pdf (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  8. Leukemia, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, neoplasms of the brain and other nervous tissue are the most common types of cancer in children and adolescents younger than 20 years old.^["Facts Spring 2014." Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. https://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/generalcancer/pdf/facts.pdf (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  9. Age is the most significant risk factor for developing myeloma. People under 45 rarely develop the disease, while those ages 67 or older are at greatest risk.^["Hematologic Cancers in Nevada 2000-2009: Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma." Nevada State Health Division. http://health.nv.gov/PDFs/Publications/2000-2009_HematologicCancersNevada.pdf (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  10. About 31% more males are living with leukemia than females. And more males than females are diagnosed with leukemia and die from it.^["Facts Spring 2014." Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. https://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/generalcancer/pdf/facts.pdf (accessed July 23, 2014).]
  11. The 5-year survival rate for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia is about 10% lower for African-Americans than whites.^["Facts Spring 2014." Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. https://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/generalcancer/pdf/facts.pdf (accessed July 23, 2014).]
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