Question 1

why did my child get leukemia?

Accepted Answer

No one knows: Only in rare circumstances do we actually know the cause. Those times would be if the child was previously treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, if there is a known genetic problem like down's syndrome or in a few families where it may be hereditary. Exposures, foods, cellphones, high voltage transmission towers, etc have not been proven to increase the risk of getting leukemia.

Question 2

why leukemia is more common to boys?

Accepted Answer

You're right: Leukemia is about 30% more common in boys than girls.  I couldn't find the reason and i doubt that it's known. If you're interested in a scholarly article, see:
http://seer.Cancer.Gov/publications/childhood/leukemia.Pdf.

Question 3

what are the types of leukemia in kids?

Accepted Answer

ALL is most common: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) is the most common childhood leukemia.  Although it requires aggressive therapy it is a curable type of leukemia.  Acute myeloid leukemia is less common and also requires aggressive chemotherapy but is harder to cure.  There are other less common types of leukemia in children as well as these.

Question 4

can a child be truly cured of leukemia?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely: The rate of cure depends on the type of leukemia.  Remission, which is the initial disappearance of the leuekemia, is easy to accomplish than cure.  Cure is usually on mentioned 2 years after the treatment is complete, .  Some of the best success in pediatric cancer in general, has been the cure rates of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  We expected cure in this disease 85% of the time.

Question 5

what are the common types of leukemia for a 25 year old?

Accepted Answer

Cml: Cml, hairy cell though AML and all can happen.

Question 6

what are the odds of getting leukemia? how common is it?

Accepted Answer

Low odds: Leukemia is quite uncommon especially in younger folks. You do not need to be thinking about it as it is so rare.

Question 7

can a guy who had leukemia, and got cured, have a child?

Accepted Answer

Yes, possible: Yes. Will depend on the age, other treament/bmt?- that affect fertility. Fertility can be affected in about +/- 50%- with certain chemotherapy for leukemia.It is important to talk about fertility prior to starting chemotherapy and have something done like- spermcryopreservation etc- if time allows. Many times- there is not enough time to do those as treatment for leukemia has to be started asap.

Question 8

is it wrong to ask what kind of leukemia if a child has it?

Accepted Answer

No: Leukemia simply means an elevated number of white blood cells in the peripheral blood, and says nothing about the prognosis or type of treatment recommended.

Question 9

do you treat leukemia differently in a child than an adult?

Accepted Answer

More intensive chemo: Yes, chemotherapy regimens for pediatric acute leukemia are usually much  more intensive and the dose usually is higher than the chemo for adult patients. Children are much tougher than how they look . They get higher dose of chemo and more intensive , but they tolerate them very well and would bounch back right away.

Question 10

could you have children if you are being treated for leukemia?

Accepted Answer

Fertility and chemo: Most children who received chemotherapy for leukemia, grow up to have children of their own. It really depends on the type of drug and dose received.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

How common is leukemia in kids

A member asked:

Why did my child get leukemia?

A member asked:

Why leukemia is more common to boys?

A member asked:

What are the types of leukemia in kids?

A member asked:

Can a child be truly cured of leukemia?

A member asked:

What are the common types of leukemia for a 25 year old?

A member asked:

What are the odds of getting leukemia? how common is it?

A member asked:

Can a guy who had leukemia, and got cured, have a child?

A member asked:

Is it wrong to ask what kind of leukemia if a child has it?

A member asked:

Do you treat leukemia differently in a child than an adult?

A member asked:

Could you have children if you are being treated for leukemia?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?