What is leukemia?
Like other cancers, leukemia is a condition where abnormal cells grow out of control and are unable to function normally. In this case, the cells that grow out of control are leukocytes, or white blood cells.

What causes leukemia?
It is thought that the different types of leukemia are caused by a variety of environmental factors, including exposure to radiation, benzene, tobacco smoke or genetic factors, such as the presence of the Ph chromosome in the case of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

What are my chances of surviving leukemia?
The successful treatment of leukemia depends on many things, including whether or not your leukemia is acute or chronic, how early you were diagnosed, how well you respond to chemotherapy and whether or not you are a candidate for stem cell transplantation. In general, the survival of patients with leukemia has risen dramatically over the past forty years. Today, approximately 73 percent of people who have CLL live for five years or more. The survival numbers have risen dramatically for those with ALL in the past several decades, largely due to advances in therapies for children.

What are the common treatments for leukemia?
Treatment for leukemia depends on what type of the disease you have. Common treatments include autologous stem cell transplantation, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy and donor lymphocyte infusion.

Why should I be treated for leukemia at the Hematology Center?
Treating and studying hematologic disease is what we do. In fact, we’re affiliated with the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of only six National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in California. Our physicians are faculty members of the renowned Keck School of Medicine, and many have been recognized as some of the Best Doctors in America. 

For a physician referral, call 1-800-700-3956.