Facts about blood cancers
Anyone can get a blood cancer at any age. Around 30,000 people, from babies to grandparents, are diagnosed with blood cancer every year in the UK.
Leukaemia
Of the 7,600 cases of leukaemia diagnosed in the UK every year, 94% are adults.
We are leading research into tailoring treatments so that rather than a one size fits all approach, every patient in the future will receive the individual treatment they need.
Childhood leukaemia
Childhood leukaemia is the most common form of cancer in children.
In 1960 when Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research was founded, a child diagnosed with leukaemia had almost no hope of survival.
Today 9 out of 10 children survive the most common form of leukaemia thanks to our continued investment in research into better treatments.
Lymphoma
Around 11,700 people in the UK are diagnosed with lymphoma every year. Lymphoma is challenging to treat mainly because there are so many different types (over 35) of this blood cancer.
Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer in young people aged 15 to 24.
Thanks to our pioneering research, doctors are able to diagnose lymphoma more accurately which means every lymphoma patient receives the best possible care.
Myeloma
Myeloma is a cancer which occurs in later life: only two percent of cases occur in people under 40.
Around 3,750 people are diagnosed with myeloma in the UK every year.
Our scientists have developed a treatment that relieves the painful symptoms of this debilitating cancer. Now they are looking for a cure.
Other disorders
Over 5,300 people are diagnosed with other blood disorders in the UK every year. These disorders are more difficult to treat because they vary so much from patient to patient.
We are integrating insights from laboratory research with information from patients on clinical trials to improve the diagnosis of these blood disorders. Accurate diagnosis will mean that patients receive better treatments.
Number of people diagnosed in the UK |
||||
Disease | Children aged 0-14 | Young adults aged 15-24 | Adults 25+ | All ages |
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) | 370 | 90 | 290 | 750 |
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) | 70 | 90 | 2090 | 2250 |
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) | – | 20 | 530 | 550 |
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) | – | – | 3300 | 3300 |
Other leukaemias | 20 | 10 | 670 | 700 |
Leukaemia (total) | 460 | 210 | 6880 | 7600 |
Hodgkin lymphoma | 70 | 250 | 1330 | 1650 |
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 100 | 80 | 8820 | 9000 |
Other lymphoproliferative disorders | 1050 | 1050 | ||
Lymphoma (total) | 170 | 330 | 11200 | 11700 |
Myeloma (total) | 3750 | 3750 | ||
Other blood cancers | 10 | 35 | – | 45 |
Myelodysplastic syndromes | – | – | 2000 | 2000 |
Myeloproliferative neoplasms | – | – | 3300 | 3300 |
Other blood cancers (total) | 10 | 35 | 5300 | 5345 |
All blood cancers (total) | 640 | 575 | 27130 | 28345 |