Blood cancers are malignancies that originate in the blood, bone marrow, or the lymphatic system. These cancers lead to the rapid and abnormal production of blood cells, disrupting the normal function of the circulatory and immune systems. This article provides a data-focused overview of blood cancer statistics in the United States, covering the number of cases, breakdowns by cancer type, and distribution across population segments.
Overall Incidence and Prevalence
Blood cancers account for approximately 10% of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States each year. “Incidence” refers to the number of new cases diagnosed within a specific time frame, while “prevalence” represents the total number of individuals currently living with a disease, including those in remission.
In 2024, an estimated 187,740 people in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with a form of blood cancer, which translates to a new diagnosis every three minutes. The prevalence is substantially higher, with data indicating that more than 1.6 million Americans are currently living with or are in remission from leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.
Statistics by Blood Cancer Type
The three primary groups of blood cancer are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Lymphoma is the most frequently diagnosed, followed by leukemia and then myeloma. For 2025, projections estimate 89,070 new cases of lymphoma and 66,890 new cases of leukemia, while in 2021, there were an estimated 34,920 new cases of myeloma.
Lymphoma is divided into two main subtypes: non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma, with NHL being far more common. Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, a type of white blood cell in the bone marrow that produces antibodies.
Leukemia is categorized into four main types based on the speed of progression (acute or chronic) and the type of white blood cell affected (lymphoid or myeloid). These include:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
Demographic Breakdown
The distribution of blood cancer cases reveals patterns across age, sex, and race. The risk for most blood cancers increases as people get older, though some types are more prevalent in younger populations. Leukemia is the most common cancer in children, accounting for 28% of all childhood cancers, with the risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) highest in those under five.
Blood cancers are statistically more common in men than in women. For example, 2021 estimates for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) showed an incidence rate of 5.2 per 100,000 for males compared to 3.5 per 100,000 for females.
There are also notable variations among racial and ethnic groups. Multiple myeloma is more than twice as common in African Americans as it is in White Americans. In contrast, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is more frequently diagnosed in North America and Europe than in Asia. Hispanic children and adolescents have higher incidence rates of leukemia compared to other groups in the U.S.
Survival Rates and Mortality
A standard measure to estimate prognosis is the 5-year relative survival rate, which compares the survival of patients with a specific disease to the survival of the general population. This rate represents the percentage of patients who are likely to be alive five years after their diagnosis.
For leukemia, the 5-year survival rate has steadily climbed from 33.3% in 1975 to more recent figures. Survival for children with lymphoid leukemia is particularly high at 92%, though it is lower for adolescents at 76%. These gains are largely attributed to advancements in treatment protocols.
Despite these improvements, blood cancers remain a cause of significant mortality. In 2024, it is estimated that 57,260 deaths will be attributed to leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma in the U.S. Projections for 2025 indicate there will be 23,540 deaths from leukemia and 20,540 from lymphoma.
For acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), although most cases occur in children, approximately four out of five deaths from the disease occur in adults, who may not tolerate aggressive treatments as well as younger patients.
Trends Over Time
While the overall U.S. cancer death rate has declined since the early 1990s, incidence rates for some blood cancers, like leukemia, have trended upward. This increase may be partly due to better diagnostic methods and an aging population.
The most significant trend has been the improvement in survival rates, reflecting progress in medical care. The overall cancer death rate for children and adolescents has fallen sharply since 1975. For childhood leukemia, mortality has declined by 70% since 1970 due to more effective treatments.