Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Mission : Cure leukemia and its related cancers - lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.


SOCIETY GOALS: Significantly accelerate cures for leukemia and related cancers. Be the recognized leader in the fight against leukemia and related cancers.


ESTABLISHED: 1949 - to date has awarded million to research!!


THE SOCIETY: national, voluntary, not-for-profit health organization dedicated to eradicating leukemia and its related cancers and to improving the quality of life of patients and their families.


PROGRAMS AVAILABLE: research, patient services, advocacy, public and professional education and community service


WHAT IS LEUKEMIA?
~ Malignancy of the blood forming tissues - bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen. It appears as uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal blood cells. When leukemia strikes, millions of abnormal and useless white blood cells accumulate in the tissues preventing the production of normal red and white blood cells and platelets.
~ The loss of red blood cells leads to anmeia. The lack of mature white blood cells impairs the body's ability to fight infections. A deficiency in platelets interferes with blood clotting, resulting in easy bleeding and bruising. Left untreated, leukemia will lead to death.
~ Acute (fast growing) leukemia symptoms tend to appear suddenly and include easy bruising, bleeding without clotting, fever, continual weakness, chronic fatigue and bone pain.
~ Chronic (slow progressing) leukemia may be present without any symptoms at all !!
~ Lymphocytic or myelogenous leukemia are dependent upon the type and site of the abnormal malignant white blood cell production.


HERE'S THE BAD NEWS :(
~Leukemia is the LEADING killer of children !! Right here in the U.S. four of every 100,000 children between ages of 2-10 will be diagnosed with leukemia this year.
~Every 12 minutes in the U.S. a child or adult dies from leukemia or related cancers: lymphoma, multiple myeloma or Hodgkin's disease!!!
~Leukemia is the LEADING fatal malignant disease in women and men under age of 35.
~Leumemia strikes 10 times as many adults as children. More than half of all cases of leukemia occur in persons over 60.
~More than 107,900 Americans will be diagnosed with leukemia or a related cancer this year.
~More than 60,500 Americans will die from leukemia or a related cancer this year - nearly 164 people every day!!


THERE IS LOTS OF GOOD NEWS :)
~Survival rates for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood leukemia, was an appalling 4% in 1960. Today, thanks to research, the survival rate is 80%. ALL is now considered to be a potentially curable disease !!
~Chemotherapy was initially developed as a treatment for leukemia. Today it is a standard therapy for most cancers.
~Bone marrow transplantation was developed as a curative therapy for leukemia. Today it serves as a promising therapy for curing breast cancer, AIDS and sickle cell anemia.
~Survival rates for adult patients with ALL, only 4% in 1960, approached 45% in the last decade.
~Hodgkin's disease is now considered to be one of the most curable forms of malignancy. Survival rates have almost doubled from 40% in 1960 to 80% today!!

Stay tuned for more good news!!!!