11 Facts About Leukemia and Other Blood Cancers

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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).]