Leukemia
In leukaemia (blood cancer) there is an uncontrolled growth of the white blood cells. The leukaemia cells will take up the space or inhibit the growth of the normal blood cells in the bone marrow so that the bone marrow cannot produce enough normal blood cells.
Leukemia can be divided into two main groups: acute and chronic. Furthermore, the disease is divided into the main diagnoses acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In addition, multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer), lymphoblastic and Burkitt leukemia / lymphoma, myelodysplastic disease and myeloploriferative disease are included in the leukaemia diagnoses.
Leukemia accounts for well over 3 percent of all cancers diagnosed in Norway. In children (0-14 years), however, this type of cancer is the most common, accounting for 1/3 of all cancer cases diagnosed in this age group. 
Risk factors
The cause of leukemia is unknown in most cases. However, long-term exposure to certain chemicals (such as benzene) and radiation have been put forward as factors that may increase the risk of acute leukaemias.
Obesity has also been shown to cause some increase in risk.
Read about causes and prevention on helsenorge.no
New cases
In 2023, 759 men and 614 women were diagnosed with leukemia. The risk of getting the disease is about 40 percent higher for men than for women. The number of cases per 100,000 people is 25.8 for men and 19.4 for women.
Aging
The median age for leukaemia for both sexes is 71 years, i.e. half of all those diagnosed are over 71 years of age.
In Norway, 2 in 100 men and women will get leukemia by the age of 80.
Survival
There has been a sharp increase in leukemia survival since the early 1990s, attributed to increased use of chemoimmunotherapy.
Relative survival is a measure of the probability of survival of a cancer patient if other causes of death are disregarded. The 5-year relative survival rate for people diagnosed with leukemia is 72,6 percent for men and 76,9 percent for women.
Relative survival by age, 2019-2023. From figure 8.2-X in Cancer in Norway 2023
Survivors after leukemia
As of 12/31/2023, there were 13,385 people alive in Norway who have or have previously had leukemia. Of these, more than half, 4,744 people, were diagnosed at least a decade ago.
Number of deaths
Leukaemia accounts for about 10 per cent of all cancer deaths, and is the fith leading cause of death from cancer among both men and women. In 2022, 414 people died of leukemia — 235 men and 179 women.
Development over time
Trends in incidence (red), mortality (pink) and 5-year relative survival (brown) of leukemia for women in the period 1965-2023. From figure 9.1-X in Cancer in Norway 2023
Trends in incidence (dark blue), mortality (light blue) and 5-year relative survival (green) of leukemia for men in the period 1965-2023. From figure 9.1-X in Cancer in Norway 2023
The classification of diseases changes over time, and this may have an impact on the developmental picture of the disease. Such changes have affected the statistics for leukemia.
Since 2002, there has been a slight increase in the incidence of leukaemia. This is because in 2002, two diseases, polycythaemia vera and myelodyplastic syndrome, were included in the statistics for leukemia. Mortality has been relatively stable.
The survival rate of leukemia has increased significantly in recent decades. Around the 1990s, five-year relative survival was 38 per cent for both sexes. In 2023, relative survival is 72 percent for men and almost 77 percent for women.
National Quality Registry for Lymphoid Malignancies
The Lymphoid Malignant Quality Registry was granted national status in 2013. The registry contains detailed information on all cases of lymphoma, lymphoid leukemias and multiple myeloma.
The Quality Registry collects data on assessment and treatment of this patient group. The purpose is to use the data to illustrate practice in hospitals, which can be of help in assessing practice in individual hospitals and for the patient group as a whole.
The Cancer Registry of Norway is responsible for data processing and works together with the professional community to develop the quality registry. The purpose of the registry is to contribute to strengthening the quality of the health care provided to patients with blood cancer and lymphoma.
Read more about the Norwegian Lymphoid Malignant Registry
Examples of the effect of the quality register are the main findings from the Annual Report on Lymphoid Malignancies 2023.
Steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting leukaemia
- Adhere to rules when handling dangerous substances in the workplace. Being exposed to some types of chemicals, such as benzene used in many industries, as well as paint products can put you at risk of developing leukemia
- Avoid smoking. There are benzene and other chemicals in cigarette smoke
- Keep a healthy body weight, avoid overweight Read more on helsenorge.no
- For prevention - follow the general health recommendations of kreftforeningen.no
Read more about cancer prevention at kreftregisteret.no - all cancers
Questions about cancer
The Cancer Registry of Norway is a research institution. Our professionals therefore do not answer questions about diagnosis, assessment, treatment and follow-up from patients or their relatives.
Questions about this should be directed to your own GP, treating institution or the Cancer Society Advisory Service tel: 21 49 49 21
Useful links
Read about leukemia on helsenorge.no
Facts about leukemia in adults - Kreftforeningen
Package pathways for chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia - Norwegian Directorate of Health
Package pathways for acute leukaemia - Norwegian Directorate of Health
The Norwegian Blood Cancer Society
Leukemia on National Cancer Institute website
Cancer statistics from the Nordic countries
