September Is National Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month
As the month of September brings leukemia and lymphoma into focus, it’s time to increase public understanding of these diseases, including their prevalence, approaches to screening and prevention, treatment options, and resources that offer updated leukemia and lymphoma information throughout the year.
What is acute myeloid leukemia?
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has many names, including acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. “Acute” means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal in a few months. “Myeloid” refers to the type of cell the leukemia starts from.
AML is a cancer that starts in cells that would normally develop into different types of blood cells. Most cases of AML develop from cells that would turn into white blood cells (other than lymphocytes), but some cases of AML develop in other types of blood-forming cells.
AML starts in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of the bones, where new blood cells are made), but in most cases it quickly moves into the blood. It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and testicles.
Other types of cancer can start in these organs and then spread to the bone marrow. But these cancers that start elsewhere and then spread to the bone marrow are not leukemia.
It is estimated that 14,590 men and women (7,820 men and 6,770 women) will be diagnosed with and 10,370 men and women will die of acute myeloid leukemia in 2013.
In June of 2011, my husband was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He had gone for an annual checkup and received a bad report about his blood count. The year before it had been normal. Within a year he had developed leukemia. The doctors do not know when it came upon him, but it was sometime doing that year. I encourage people to have regular check-ups. We had no idea that he was even sick at the time of the check-up.
I am still thankful to everyone for the support, love, encouragement, and prayers as we went through the battle. I believe he received the best medical treatment that was possible at the time of his illness. The leukemia was too aggressive even after a bone marrow transplant. My husband went to sleep in my arms on July 24, 2012 and woke in the arms of Jesus.
Please be aware of this cancer and pray that through research they can someday find a cure.
I love you.
You and Jerry fought so hard to battle his illness of Leukemia. We prayed so hard for Jerry to win the fight against the illness. I pray that more research and awareness can help w a cure for this ugly disease. You are in our prayers and know how very much we love you.
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