Leukemia and lymphoma are cancers that impact blood or bone marrow.
Leukemia starts in the tissue that forms blood when a person’s bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells. Unlike normal blood cells, these do not die when they should and “crowd out” normal white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, according to the American Association for Cancer Research.
An estimated 62,770 news cases of leukemia are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, with an additional 23,600 deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. This is the most common kind of cancer among children younger than 15.
Lymphoma begins in the cells of the lymph system, which is part of the immune system found throughout the body. The two categories of lymphomas — Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins. An estimated 80,600 people are expected to be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s this year, with an additional 20,000 losing their lives to the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Prostate cancer ranks as the second most common and second leading cause of death in men. The good news is that because of effective screening options, this disease is often caught early and generally has good survival rates.
In 2024, the National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 299,000 men will receive a prostate diagnoses this year and 35,000 men will die from the disease in this same time frame. In the U.S., approximately 11 percent of all men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
This is more common in older men and more likely to occur when there is a family history present. African American men also have a higher risk. Risk factors include smoking, being overweight and not getting sufficient exercise.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the throat that produces hormones which control heart rate, body temperature, metabolism and the amount of calcium in the blood. This cancer occurs in women significantly more often than it does in men.
There are 4 main kinds of thyroid cancer – papillary thyroid, follicular thyroid, medullary thyroid and anaplastic thyroid. Of these, papillary thyroid is the most common, accounting for 85 percent of all diagnosis, according to the National Cancer Institute. If diagnosed early, cure rates are high.
Medullary thyroid cancer is a rare that impacts the ability to maintain calcium levels in the blood. Anaplastic thyroid cancer cancer is a rare and aggressive one that normally impacts those aged 60 and up. It grows fast and is difficult to treat.
In 2024, an estimated 44,000 in the U.S. will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer and another 2,170 will lose their lives to the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Risk factors include exposure to radiation and a family history of thyroid issues.
This encompasses the entire female reproductive system, including cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancers. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2024, more than 100,000 in the U.S. will be diagnosed with one of these cancers and 32,000 will die from the disease in the same time frame. Each has its own warning signs and risk factors and the risks increase with age.
-Cervical: Caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
-Ovarian: There are three different kinds that involve tissue over the ovaries, the lining of the fallopian tubes and cell tumors.
-Uterine: Involving the tissues of the uterus and existing in 2 types – endometrial and sarcoma. Risk factors for endometrial include Obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.
-Vaginal: There are 2 main types – squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
-Vulva: Involves abnormal cell growth on the external genitalia. Risk factors include a history of genital warts and HPV infection.
