What is the life expectancy of someone with leukemia?

Answer 1

Complete remission occurs in 70 - 80% of patients. Overall, about 33% of persons under age 65 survive free of disease at 5 years from diagnosis. This 5-year survival rate drops dramatically (4%) in those older than 65. In general, patients who are younger have a better chance of survival than older patients. This is partly due to one's ability to tolerate the strong chemotherapy medicines.

Patients who have not experienced a relapse during these 5 years are considered permanently cured, since most relapses occur within 2 years of diagnosis.

Without treatment, life expectancy is about 3 - 4 months.

There are four basic types of leukemia. The above answer loosely applies to the two acute forms. In the chronic forms, the life expectancy is 10-20 years.

Answer 2

The life expectancy for someone with leukemia varies greatly depending on the type of leukemia, the person's age, overall health, and response to treatment. Some types of leukemia have high survival rates with modern treatments, while others may be more challenging to treat. It is important for individuals with leukemia to work closely with their healthcare team to determine their prognosis and develop a treatment plan.