It’s a disease of the bone marrow, the part of the body that makes blood cells. In leukemia the body makes too many abnormal white blood cells, which may cause – Infections Leukemic cells lack the infection-fighting ability of normal white blood cells. Anemia Production of red blood cells drops as leukemic cells flood the marrow. Excessive Bleeding Clotting ability decreases the number of platelets (tiny disks in the blood needed for clotting) is very low. New treatments mean improved chances of survival for many patients.

It Kills More Children between the ages of 1 and 15 than any other disease. It Kills More Adults than children. People over 60 are most often affected, and men more often than women. Nearly 30,600 Americans will develop leukemia this year (2003). About 21,900 others will die from leukemia. It is estimated that 178,400 people in the U.S. are currently living with leukemia (2003). There is no known way to prevent leukemia, but it can be treated effectively. Today, modern treatments offer more hope than ever before to people who have leukemia.