Blood Cancer Facts

May 10, 2024 
This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Leslie Popplewell, M.D., Hematologist and Medical Director of Hematology and Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant, City of Hope Atlanta

What Is Blood Cancer?

Blood cells fight infection, carry oxygen throughout the body and control bleeding. They are produced in the bone marrow — the soft, spongy tissue in the center of the bone — and released into circulation. They start as stem cells and develop into one of three types of blood cells: red, white or platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells fight infection and platelets help blood clot, which helps to prevent too much bleeding.

Blood cancer may occur when something goes wrong as cells develop. Cancer, the abnormal growth of cells, prevents blood cells from performing their important functions.

There are different types of blood cancers, but the three main groups are listed below.

Leukemia: Found in the blood and bone marrow, it is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. Patients with leukemia are not able to fight infection. Also, their bone marrow cannot properly produce red blood cells and platelets.

Lymphoma: This type of blood cancer affects the lymphatic system. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. When they go haywire, they multiply and collect in lymph nodes and other tissues. Over time, they harm the immune system.

Myeloma: Myeloma is a blood cancer of the plasma cells. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that makes antibodies (proteins) to protect the body from infection. When the normal antibody production is disrupted, the immune system is weakened and infection risk rises.

How Common Are Blood Cancers?

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024, the United States will see more than 187,000 new cases of blood cancer. Among those new cases, more specifically, the nation may see:

• 62,770 new cases of leukemia
• 89,190 new cases of lymphoma
• 35,780 new cases of myeloma

In the U.S., a person learns he or she has leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma roughly every three minutes, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). New cases of these main blood cancers account for about 10% of the nearly 2 million new cancers diagnosed in the U.S. annually, LLS adds.

What Causes Blood Cancer?

The exact cause of blood cancers is not known, but some factors are believed to increase a person’s risk.

Risk Factors for Blood Cancers

While a healthy lifestyle may significantly reduce the risk of some types of cancer, that’s not the case with blood cancers. Diet and exercise seem to have little effect on blood cancer risk, but several other factors do seem to have a role. They include those listed below.

Age: Some blood cancers such as leukemia are more common in older people, but they may occur at any age.

Sex: Some blood cancers, such as lymphoma, are more common in men than women, and others are more common in women than men.

Ethnicity: Certain ethnic groups have a higher risk for developing some blood cancers. For example, the odds of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma are greater among white people than among African Americans in the U.S.

Family history: Research shows that some blood cancers may run in families due to inherited gene mutations.

Exposure to radiation or chemicals: People who have been exposed to a good deal of radiation may be at greater risk of developing blood cancer. This includes people who received radiation therapy treatment for another cancer and those who are long-term survivors of atomic bombings. 

Certain health conditions and the treatments for them: People with other bone marrow disorders are more susceptible to leukemia, for example.