Leukemia Statistics - Leukemia Statistics

Leukemia Statistics
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last updated/reviewed: March 05, 2009
eMedTV

In the case of leukemia, statistics can help provide a better understanding of the disease and its impact. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 35,070 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia in 2006. Based on statistics from 2000-2002, 1.27 percent of men and women (or 1 in 79 men and women) born today will be diagnosed with the disease at some time during their lifetime.

Statistics on Leukemia: 2006 Estimates
The American Cancer Society estimated that 35,070 men and women (20,000 men and 15,070 women) would be diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, and 22,280 men and women would die of the disease during the year.

Leukemia Statistics: Age-at-Diagnosis Figures
From 1998-2002, the median age at leukemia diagnosis was 67 years. The percentages of people diagnosed with the disease based on age were as follows:

* 11.4 percent were diagnosed under age 20
* 5.2 percent between 20 and 34
* 5.9 percent between 35 and 44
* 9.7 percent between 45 and 54
* 13.9 percent between 55 and 64
* 20.5 percent between 65 and 74
* 23.2 percent between 75 and 84
* 10.1 percent at 85+ years of age.

Leukemia Statistics: Deaths
From 1998-2002, the median age at death from leukemia was 74 years. The percentages of people who died from the disease based on age were:

* 3.3 percent died under age 20
* 3.5 percent between 20 and 34
* 3.9 percent between 35 and 44
* 6.7 percent between 45 and 54
* 11.8 percent between 55 and 64
* 23.4 percent between 65 and 74
* 31.1 percent between 75 and 84
* 16.4 percent at 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted death rate for leukemia was 7.6 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are based on people who died in 1998-2002 in the United States. Death rates by race and sex are shown in the following table.

Race/Ethnicity Men Women

All races 10.2 per 100,000 men 5.8 per 100,000 women
Caucasian 10.4 per 100,000 men 6.0 per 100,000 women
African American 8.9 per 100,000 men 5.4 per 100,000 women
Asian/Pacific Islander 5.3 per 100,000 men 3.2 per 100,000 women
American Indian/Alaska Native 5.1 per 100,000 men 3.0 per 100,000 women
Hispanic 6.6 per 100,000 men 4.3 per 100,000 women

Statistics on Leukemia Survival Rates
Leukemia survival rates can be calculated by different methods for different purposes. The survival rates presented here are based on the relative survival rate. The relative survival rate measures the survival of the cancer patients in comparison to the general population to estimate the effect of the disease. The overall five-year relative survival rate for 1995-2001 was 47.6 percent.

The five-year relative survival rates by race and sex were:

* 49.6 percent for Caucasian men
* 48.4 percent for Caucasian women
* 39.2 percent for African American men
* 36.9 percent for African American women.

Leukemia Statistics: Lifetime Risk
Based on rates from 2000-2002, 1.27 percent of men and women (or 1 in 79 men and women) born today will be diagnosed with leukemia at some point during their lifetime. These statistics are referred to as the lifetime risk of developing cancer. Sometimes, it is more useful to look at the probability of developing leukemia between two age groups. For example, 0.48 percent of men will develop the disease between their 50th and 70th birthdays, compared to 0.28 percent of women.

Statistics on Leukemia Prevalence Rate
On January 1, 2002, in the United States there were approximately 189,865 men and women alive who had a history of leukemia -- 106,434 men and 83,431 women. This prevalence rate includes any person alive on January 1, 2002, who had been diagnosed with the disease at any point prior to January 1, 2002, any person with active disease, and those who had been cured of their disease.

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