September is Blood cancer Awareness Month
Sep 10, 2025
In 2025, it's projected that the United States will see more than 192,00 cases of blood cancers including 66,890 new cases of leukemia, 89,070 new cases of lymphoma, and 36,110 new cases of myeloma. Blood cancers account for nearly 10% of all new cancer diagnoses annually.
According to published data from 2025, approximately 1.24 million cases of blood cancer occur globally each year, making up about 6% of all cancer cases. Blood cancers were responsible for an estimated 699,461 deaths worldwide in 2022. Trends show that wealthier nations have higher incidence rates, while many regions of Africa have lower rates.
There has been dramatic improvement in the treatment and outcomes for most blood cancers in the past two decades. Many of these cancers are more common as someone ages, but some leukemias and lymphomas are fairly common in children.
Leukemia
Leukemias are cancers of the white blood cells made in the bone marrow. They often present with symptoms related to suppression of normal blood production, such as fatigue from too few red blood cells or unexplained bleeding or bruising from decreased platelet production.
Leukemia is the most common cancer in children younger than 15 years. There are four major types of leukemia: acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which affects myeloid cells and grows quickly; chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which affects lymphoid cells and grows slowly; acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which affects lymphoid cells and grows quickly; and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), which affects myeloid cells and usually grows slowly at first. AML and CLL are the most common types in adults, and ALL is the most common type in children.
In the US for 2025 - 66,890 new cases of leukemia are predicted.
Lymphoma
Lymphomas are divided into Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas. These are cancers of lymph tissue and often present with persistent enlarged lymph nodes. Lymphomas are among some of the most treatable cancers, and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in particular is considered one of the most curable of all cancers.
Hodgkin lymphoma is usually marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell in the lymph nodes. Hodgkin lymphoma may also occur in patients who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma includes a large, diverse group of cancers of immune system cells. Scientists typically categorize them as either slow-growing or aggressive. The most common types of NHL in adults are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. Both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur in children and adults.
In the US for 2025 - 88,070 new cases are predicted including 8,720 for Hodgkin lymphoma and 80,350 for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow that are responsible for making antibodies that help fight infections. It can cause bone lesions and fractures, anemia, high calcium levels, and kidney failure. Also, it is much more treatable than it was in the past.
Symptoms may not be present or may be non-specific, such as loss of appetite, bone pain, and fever. People may experience: Pain in the back or bones, anemia, fatigue, or loss of appetite. Also common: constipation, hypercalcemia, kidney damage, or weight loss.
In the US for 2025 - 36,1110 new myeloma cases are projected.
Childhood and Adolescent Blood Cancers
As of 2025, an estimated 496,000 individuals in the United States who were diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20 are alive today. Each year, about 15,600 children and adolescents under 20 are newly diagnosed with cancer, with leukemia remaining the most common type, accounting for roughly 25–28% of all cases in this age group. Other frequent diagnoses include brain and central nervous system tumors, which represent about 27% of cases, and lymphomas, which account for 12–19%. The age-adjusted incidence rate for leukemia among children and adolescents is approximately 4.8 per 100,000, while lymphoma occurs at about 2.6 per 100,000, combining for a blood cancer incidence of roughly 7.3 per 100,000. Leukemia is also the second leading cause of cancer-related death in young people, after brain and central nervous system tumors, accounting for 22–26% of all cancer deaths in those under 20.
References
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American Cancer Society. Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death among children and adolescents in the U.S. In 2025, estimated 9,550 children (ages 0–14) and 5,140 adolescents (ages 15–19) will be diagnosed with cancer. ~1,650 will die. New York Post
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SEER Stat Fact: Childhood Leukemia (Ages 0–19). Incidence rate: 4.8 per 100,000; leukemia accounts for 25.4% of new pediatric cancer cases. SEER
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American Cancer Society. Most common pediatric cancers: Leukemia (~28%, 0–14 years); Brain/CNS tumors (~27%); Lymphomas (~12–19%). Cancer.org+1
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SEER Data (2025). About 496,000 individuals are living with childhood/adolescent cancer history as survivors. Cancer.gov+1
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Blood Cancer United. Leukemia & lymphoma age-adjusted incidence combined: ~7.3 per 100,000; leukemia ~4.7; lymphoma ~2.6. Leukemia causes ~26.1% of cancer deaths in <20 years. Blood Cancer United
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