What You Need To Know About Leukemia This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet has important information about leukemia,* cancer that starts in blood cells. Each year, leukemia isdiagnosed in about 29,000 adults and 2,000 children inthe United States. This booklet discusses possible causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and followup care. It also hasinformation to help people with leukemia and theirfamilies cope with the disease. Research is increasing what we know about leukemia. Scientists are studying its causes. They arealso finding better ways to treat this disease. Because ofresearch, adults and children with leukemia can lookforward to a better quality of life and less chance ofdying from the disease. What Is Leukemia? eukemia is a type of cancer. Cancer is a group ofmany related diseases. All cancers begin in cells, which make up blood and other tissues. Normally, cellsgrow and divide to form new cells as the body needsthem. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells taketheir place. Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and oldcells do not die when they should. Leukemia is cancerthat begins in blood cells. Normal Blood Cells Blood cells form in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft material in the center of most bones. Immature blood cells are called stem cells and blasts. Most blood cells mature in the bone marrow and thenmove into the blood vessels. Blood flowing through theblood vessels and heart is called the peripheral blood.

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