Key Facts/Risk Factors
Leukemia is a cancer that primarily affects what part of the body?
Blood and Bone Marrow
Leukemia can cause fatigue and pale skin because of a decrease in which blood cells?
Red blood cells
What common blood test can show abnormal numbers of blood cells?
Complete blood count (CBC)
What treatment uses drugs to kill rapidly growing cancer cells?
Chemotherapy
I’m older than the Alma Mater statue and feed future Illini every year, but I’m not a building or a mascot. What am I?
The Morrow Plots
Which leukemia is the most common cancer in children?
A) ALL B) AML C) CLL D)CML
A) ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia)
Frequent infections can occur in leukemia even when a patient has a high white blood cell count. Why?
Many of the white blood cells are abnormal/immature and don't function properly
Besides a CBC, what procedure is commonly used to confirm a leukemia diagnosis?
Bone marrow Biopsy
What treatment replaces unhealthy blood-forming stem cells with healthy ones?
Stem cell/bone marrow transplant
I hold over 60,000 fans and honor the 183 Illinois students who lost their lives in World War I—their names are carved into my columns. What landmark am I?
Memorial Stadium
Which type of leukemia is the most common acute leukemia in adults? A) ALL B) AML C) CLL D) CML
AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia)
Leukemia can cause unexplained bruising, petechiae, and prolonged bleeding because of a reduction in what?
Platelets (thrombocytopenia)
Leukemia cells may be detected in a CBC because of abnormal levels of which three major blood cell components?
White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets
What type of treatment attacks specific proteins or changes in cancer cells rather than broadly attacking rapidly dividing cells?
Targeted therapy
These two connected residence halls—named after pioneering women—once had a strict curfew for female students and are among the oldest dorms on campus. What are they called?
Busey–Evans Residence Halls
Exposure to high levels of what type of radiation is an established risk factor for certain leukemias?
Ionizing radiation
Enlargement of which organ can cause abdominal fullness or discomfort in some leukemia patients, particularly those with CML?
Spleen (splenomegaly)
Why isn't there a routine screening test for leukemia like there is for breast or colorectal cancer?
Routine screening hasn't been shown to benefit people without symptoms; leukemia is generally detected through symptoms and diagnostic testing
What newer treatment modifies a patient's own immune cells so they can recognize and attack certain cancer cells?
CAR T-cell therapy
This road splits the Urbana and Champaign sides of campus, running past the Illini Union and Engineering Quad. What street is it?
Wright Street
The Philadelphia chromosome, strongly associated with CML, results from a translocation between which two chromosomes?
Chromosomes 9 and 22
A patient with leukemia develops fatigue, shortness of breath, recurrent infections, and easy bruising. What three blood-cell abnormalities could explain these symptoms?
Anemia, neutropenia/dysfunctional WBCs, and thrombocytopenia
After leukemia is diagnosed, why might doctors perform genetic or molecular testing on the cancer cells?
To identify mutations/abnormalities that help classify the leukemia, predict prognosis, and guide treatment
Why might two people with leukemia receive very different treatments even if they are both diagnosed with “leukemia”?
Treatment depends on the specific leukemia type/subtype, genetics, age, overall health, and other factors
In UIUC tradition, seniors sometimes jump into this campus landmark’s chilly water to celebrate the end of finals week. What is it?
The Beckman Fountain (also known as the “Engineering Fountain” near Grainger)