Leukemia 101

Getting older is a privilege, but aging isn’t necessarily easy. The more birthdays under your belt, the higher your risk for certain diseases. This is true for many types of cancer, including some types of leukemia.“Leukemia” is an umbrella term for cancers of the blood and blood-forming tissues. More specifically, leukemias affect blood cells, though they also affect blood marrow (the soft, fatty tissue inside your bones).Some types of leukemia are more common in children, but anyone can get the disease. While leukemia is the 10th most common cancer in the United States, it’s still considered somewhat rare compared to other cancers — making up about 3% of all cancer cases.Like most cancers, catching leukemia in the early stages can lead to better outcomes. Here’s what you need to know about leukemia risk factors, symptoms, types, treatments and more.What is leukemia?Leukemia is a disease that causes the body to make too many unhealthy white blood cells.White blood cells are part of the body’s immune system and are critical for protecting against infection and illness. They usually grow and divide in an orderly fashion, but with the changes produced by leukemia, the abnormal white ...