The National Cancer Institute estimates that there will be 43,050 new cases and 21,840 deaths from leukemia in the United States in 2010. Although certain specific types of leukemia are very prevalent in children, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society explains that leukemia is most common in adults, particularly in those over 60.
Types
The many forms of leukemia include both chronic and acute variants. Since chronic leukemia can be virtually symptomless at first, early diagnosis is usually made when the patient gets routine lab work done or complains about an unrelated illness. This is very different from acute forms of leukemia, in which people usually complain of very specific disease-related symptoms. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the most common types of leukemia in adults are chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia.
Symptoms
According to the National Cancer Institute, symptoms of acute leukemia and advanced chronic leukemia include swollen lymph notes, fevers and night sweats, fatigue and breathlessness, bleeding and bruising, abdominal discomfort and bone pain. These symptoms are usually related to the proliferation of white blood cells, which become so packed in the marrow and in other areas that the body can no longer make other types of blood cells.
Treatment
While the aim of treatment is to stop the proliferation of white cells, certain treatments are aimed at minimizing specific symptoms. For example, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society explains that transfusions of red blood cells may help with fatigue and breathlessness related to anemia. Likewise, transfusions of platelets may provide short-term relief from bleeding and bruising.
Prognosis
Dr. Peter Marks, director of Yale University School of Medicine's Leukemia Program says that as of 2010, about 25 to 50 percent of adults with acute myeloid leukemia are cured with chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Dr. Marks estimates that roughly 15 to 25 percent of adults with acute lymphoid leukemia are cured with chemotherapy.
Hospice
Although cure rates have improved dramatically over the past 40 years, it is more appropriate for some patients and families to focus upon end-of-life care. Curative treatments are abandoned in favor of approaches that minimize patient's symptoms and make them more comfortable.
