Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. The American Cancer Society estimates 47,150 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in 2012. Symptoms may include fatigue, paleness and weight loss, repeated infections, fever, bruising easily, and nosebleeds or other hemorrhages. Acute cases can appear suddenly, whereas chronic leukemia can progress slowly with few symptoms and be diagnosed during routine blood tests. Among children and teens less than 20 years old, leukemia is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death.
One known risk factor for leukemia is the chemical benzene. It is found in gasoline and in cigarette smoke. Children with Down syndrome and certain other genetic abnormalities also have a higher-than-average rate of leukemia diagnosis.
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. It is classified as Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin, depending on the disease's behavior within the body. It is estimated that 70,130 new cases of non-Hodgkin and 9,060 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma will be diagnosed this year.
Symptoms of lymphoma include swollen lymph nodes, itching, night sweats, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and intermittent fever. Like most cancers, the risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma increases as we age. However, the opposite is true for Hodgkin lymphoma, with the risk being higher during adolescence and early adulthood.
For more information on blood cancers, visit the CDC website.
If you are a blood cancer patient or survivor, join us for a monthly support group at the Hope Cancer Resources office on the 2nd Tuesday evening of every month. Contact Lisa Manzini-Pace, LCSW, for more information at 479-361-5847.
*Information for this article was gathered from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the American Cancer Society.
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