While children are unlikely to get some types of leukemia that adults can acquire, they may be hit hard by the types of leukemia they do develop. Children are younger and their bodies are still developing, so leukemia can be a hard blow to handle. However, in some cases, children may also have a better chance at recovering than adults do, which can make learning about children and leukemia interesting.

Childhood Leukemia

Acute lympoblastic leukemia is the most common type of leukemia developed by children. This type of the disease causes large numbers of white blood cells to develop abnormally, meaning they cannot fully perform the functions of healthy white blood cells. This type of leukemia normally occurs in children ages two to five years old. Yet, the disease is also the most successfully treated type of leukemia in children.

Those children who are diagnosed with leukemia will experience common symptoms such as fever, pale skin, loss of weight and appetite, and fatigue. They may also experience bone pain and may get frequent infections. The frequent infections result from the child’s immune system not being able to function as well due to the large numbers of abnormal white blood cells. Children who have leukemia can receive the same treatment as adults, including chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow treatments. In fact, children may respond better to these treatments than adults.

Children are also likely to develop acute myelogenous leukemia. One interesting fact about children and leukemia is that children with Down’s syndrome are more likely to develop this type of cancer. Scientists believe this is because of the genetic mutation children with Down’s syndrome have. However, the interesting part is that Down’s syndrome children who do develop the cancer also have a greater chance of receiving successful treatment and recovering. The same mutation that makes these children more likely to acquire leukemia also gives them a better chance of surviving the disease.

Over 2,000 children are diagnosed with leukemia in the United States each year, and the disease is a serious one to deal with. But children may also have the upper hand against adults with the disease in some cases. Since each cancer patient is different than another, it is best to discuss the prognosis with a doctor.