American R&B singer and songwriter Nivea has revealed that she is battling leukemia, a type of blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow, where the body produces blood cells.The 44-year-old singer shared the news during an appearance on the Cadillac Chronicles interview series."I was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year, and I am so grateful to God," she said. "I've been going through treatment and everything is going great so far. And I expect it to continue. Amen. Amen. Amen. And I'm very grateful for life. It's so cliché to say, you know, you don't know the time nor the hour, and it's true."She said living with gratitude has helped her through the diagnosis."I'm definitely back into my music. I'm going to school for audio engineering. I've always wanted to learn how to engineer and mix engineer in particular. But in general, just doing all the things, honey. Loving on my children and just being grateful."Nivea rose to prominence in the early 2000s with a string of hit singles and earned a Grammy Award nomination for "Don't Mess With My Man."What Is Leukemia?Also read: Nara Smith's 2-Year-Old Daughter Diagnosed With Cancer; Why Childhood Cancer Remains A Global Concern According to the Mayo Clinic, leukemia is a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.It usually affects white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infections. In people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces excessive abnormal white blood cells that do not function properly.Treatment for leukemia depends on the type of leukemia and other factors, but several therapies are available to help manage the disease.Types of LeukemiaThe four main types of leukemia are:Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)Nivea has not disclosed which type of leukemia she has.Symptoms of LeukemiaSymptoms vary depending on the type of leukemia but commonly include:Fever or chillsPersistent fatigue and weaknessFrequent or severe infectionsUnexplained weight lossSwollen lymph nodes or an enlarged liver or spleenEasy bruising or bleedingRecurrent nosebleedsTiny red spots on the skin (petechiae)Excessive sweating, especially at nightBone pain or tendernessHow Common Is Leukemia?Leukemia is the 10th most common cancer in the United States, accounting for about 3.2% of all new cancer cases.Globally, leukemia cases increased by 28% between 1990 and 2021, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021).An estimated 1.71 million people were living with leukemia worldwide in 2021. The disease is most commonly diagnosed in children aged 0-4 years and adults aged 70 years and older.Who Is at Higher Risk?While anyone can develop leukemia, certain factors may increase the risk:Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapySmokingExposure to industrial chemicals such as benzeneCertain genetic disorders, including Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, neurofibromatosis and Shwachman-Diamond syndromeFamily history of leukemiaTreatment OptionsTreatment depends on the type of leukemia, the patient's age and overall health, and whether the cancer has spread. Common treatment options include:Chemotherapy: Uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.Radiation therapy: Uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells.Immunotherapy: Helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.Targeted therapy: Blocks specific molecules that help leukemia cells grow.Stem cell transplant: Replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells.CAR T-cell therapy: A form of immunotherapy in which a patient's T cells are modified to recognize and destroy cancer cells.