Introduction

This booklet provides information about acute myeloid leukemia (AML) for patients and their families. Brief descriptions of normal blood and marrow and definitions of medical terms are included at the end of the booklet to help readers better understand the information about AML.

AML may be called by other names, including acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia and acute granulocytic leukemia.

About 12,810 new cases of AML were expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2009. As of January 2006 an estimated 27,838 people were living with (or were in remission from) AML. Although AML can occur at any age, adults aged 60 years and older are more likely to develop the disease than younger people.

Advances in AML testing and treatment are resulting in improved remission and cure rates, but much work remains to be done. For example, the vitamin A derivative all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has greatly improved survival rates for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a subtype of AML. A number of new therapies are under study in clinical trials.

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