This year, an estimated 15,680 people of all ages (9,720 men and 5,960 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with CLL. Children are almost never diagnosed with CLL, but it is the most common type of leukemia diagnosed in adults. It is estimated that 4,580 deaths (2,750 men and 1,830 women) from CLL will occur this year.

The survival rate of people with CLL varies widely according to the stage of the disease (see Staging [2]) and can range from about one year to more than 20 to 30 years. The overall five-year survival rate (percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of people with CLL is about 82%.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of people with this type of cancer in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with CLL. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer. Learn more about understanding statistics [3].

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts and Figures 2013.

Last Updated: February 6, 2013