My husband was diagnosed last year with Leukemia and it was a total shock to the system. He’s been healthy our entire 22-year marriage only having a cold a few times, this diagnosis rocked me hard. One blessing is that he has a team of doctors who he sees regularly and so far his cancer is growing very slowly. Skin Cancer can also pop up with Leukemia and he has been diagnosed with that as well. He goes every three months and usually has a new spot removed or scrapped and burned. Sunscreen is more important than ever but he hasn’t bought into that yet.
As scary as it was in the beginning, after educating ourselves and him seeing a doctor every three months we are more comfortable about where his health is at.
This Is Blood Cancer
Blood Cancer Awareness Month is a global event helping to raise awareness of one of the world’s most prevalent and dangerous cancers: blood cancer.
September turns red each year as the spotlight is put firmly on blood cancer and the impact it has on our communities and the urgent need for more action.
Raising awareness of blood cancer, its signs and symptoms, and its impact, will help to improve early diagnosis, encourage policymakers to prioritize the disease, as well as help everyone with blood cancer feel connected and heard.
Tricia Hernandez with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society says many blood cancers are treatable through chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, and surgery.
She says in Maine, nearly 900 people have been diagnosed with blood cancer this year.
“A person is diagnosed with a blood cancer approximately every three minutes. So, it’s quite a large number although a rare disease than other cancers. There are hundreds of thousands of people affected by this,” said Hernandez.
Major Types of Leukemia
The four major types of leukemia are:
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which affects myeloid cells and grows quickly;
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), which affects myeloid cells and grows slowly;
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), which affects lymphoid cells and grows quickly; and
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which also affects lymphoid cells, but grows slowly.
CLL is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults. ALL is the most common type of leukemia in children.
Types of Lymphoma
Lymphomas begin in cells of the lymph system, which is a part of the immune system. Lymph tissue is found throughout the body. As a result, lymphoma can begin almost anywhere. The disease occurs in two types: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
Both types can occur in adults and children. An estimated 80,620 people in the United States will develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2024, according to the NCI. Approximately 20,140 people will die from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. For Hodgkin lymphoma, 8,570 new cases and 910 deaths are estimated for 2024, according to the NCI.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
There are many different types of leukemia and lymphoma in adults and children. For more information on these different diseases, please see:
- Our pages on leukemia in adults: acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia.
- Our pages on lymphoma in adults: Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, primary central nervous system lymphoma, and AIDS-related lymphoma.
- Our pages on leukemia and lymphoma in children and adolescents: childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Learn about testing for chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations that can help direct treatment for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Cancer Today magazine, published by the AACR.
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lookingforthelight.blog 
God bless your husband-and you-as you both move forward in faith treating this surprising diagnosis. Staying informed and well educated is a wise way to walk through this🤍🙏🏻.
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Thank you for the kind words. Staying informed is critical and I’m glad he has three doctors and regular visits.
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yes, I had a rare blood cancer —- its name starts with ‘Waldenstrom —‘ which I battled for sixteen months but thankfully I’m in remission now ; hope your husband continues to improve :)
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He has CLL which is slow growing but the skin cancer isn’t slow. Did you take any type of aggressive therapy? I ask because of what is going on with my health and my searches have lead me to a blood cancer. I saw the name of the type you had but didn’t read since it didn’t appy to the symptoms I’m having. Thank you for the kind words, he takes it with a grain of salt or at least acts that way to me. I take my health seriously but I’ve been sick most of our 22 year marriage. :)
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I had chemo, blood transfusions and steroids; the two episodes of Golden Staph were worse than the cancer….
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I looked at the recommened treatments and blood transfusion came to mind but weren’t mentioned. I thought about what route I would take if that was my future and my guess is that chemo has the highest success rate but I’m guessing. I haven’t heard of Golden Staph but it sounds nasty.
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I’m sorry to hear your husband has leukemia, Melinda. The two of you rely on each other so much. May God give you strength and joy in every day. Hugs to you, Sweetie.
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He acts like it no big deal but that’s not how I feel.
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Because, it is a big deal, and you want him healthy and happy in your life, dear friend.
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That’s so true, even though he can be a pain I would not want to live without him.
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You have certainly been given your share of challenges.. I’m glad he is proactive! Great info, Melinda❣️
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I’m so glad Granny told me as a teen that God won’t give you more than you can handle. It doesn’t feel that way sometimes but she’s been right everytime.
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oh yes, wise words❣️
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it is good that there is an awareness month for blood cancer! I’m glad there is! <3
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