Ron’s Hike for Discovery Weblog

• that Leukemia is actually a group of four different types of blood cancers that originate in the bone marrow?

1. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
2. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
3. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
4. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

• that Lymphoma is actually a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system?

1. Hodgkin Lymphoma
2. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

• that Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells that begins in the bone marrow?

• that about 33 percent of cancers in children ages 0-14 years are leukemia? The most common form of leukemia among children under 19 years of age is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

• that because of new and better therapies, cancer survival rates for children have improved significantly during the last several decades?

• that the most common types of leukemia in adults are acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), with an estimated 13,410 new cases this year, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with some 15,340 new cases this year?

• that anyone can get leukemia? Leukemia affects all ages and sexes. The cause of leukemia is not known.

• that leukemia treatment is complex and can include; chemotherapy, biological therapy, drugs called ‘kinase inhibitors’, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants, and clinical trials using new experimental treatments?

• that Hodgkin lymphoma was named for Thomas Hodgkin, an English physician who described several cases of the disease in 1832? Hodgkin lymphoma will represent about 11.5 percent of all lymphomas diagnosed this year.

• that the difference between Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma is the presence of a specific type of abnormal cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell? The lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin’s if the Reed-Sternberg cell is present, non-Hodgkins if it is not.

• that in the United States, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer?

• that about 19,900 Americans will be diagnosed with myeloma this year? About 60,424 people in the U.S. are living with myeloma.

• that there is no cure for myeloma?

• that The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society invests $61 million annually in support of more than 200 researchers, provides financial assistance to patients, sponsors scientific conferences around the country, produces educational materials and videos, and runs over 50 support groups nationwide?

• that you can get much more information about these cancers at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website that you can link to here:  Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: