Lymphoma & Leukemia

There are about 56 kinds of lymphoma. They are classified as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Lymphoma becomes leukemia when the number of affected cells in the bone marrow skyrockets above 20-25%. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is a very aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that is fatal in a few weeks if left untreated.

ALL is a blood cancer that causes the body’s bone marrow to churn out mutant white blood cells (blasts) that are too immature to carry out their disease-fighting functions. ALL is the most common type of leukemia in children. However, this type of leukemia also occurs among adults and is not only a “childhood disease.” Unfortunately adults do not always respond to ALL treatment as well as children do, since adults have more risk factors due to age and other health conditions.

On the bright side, there are many ALL success stories out there that help us remain optimistic.

To find out more, see:

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

http://www.seattlecca.org/

 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

http://www.lls.org/

 

For those who are interested in becoming a bone marrow donor, see Be The Match at

http://www.marrow.org