Leukemia is the most common form of cancer seen in children, affecting more than 3,000 children in the United States each year. While a diagnosis of this illness seems overwhelming, there is cause to be optimistic. Important scientific breakthroughs in the treatment of leukemia are being made and tested at the University of Chicago Medicine.
Our pediatric cancer care team has the extensive experience needed to provide young leukemia patients outstanding clinical care — offering both the latest investigational therapies as well as established treatments for all types of leukemia. In fact, the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital was the first hospital in Chicago certified to offer CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and young adults.
What is Leukemia?
Leukemia, the most common type of childhood cancer, is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. When children have leukemia, their bone marrow makes white blood cells that do not mature properly. These unhealthy cells rapidly reproduce, crowding out the healthy bone marrow cells that produce infection-fighting white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Leukemia can occur at any age, but is most commonly seen in children between 2 and 6 years old. Little is known about the cause of most leukemia, and it typically affects otherwise healthy children. Some children with certain genetic syndromes are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
The major types of childhood leukemia include:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), also known as acute lymphoid leukemia
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
- Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML)
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
Why Choose UChicago Medicine for Childhood Leukemia
Our pediatric cancer care team has the extensive experience needed to provide young leukemia patients outstanding clinical care.
We provide a second opinion on the diagnosis or treatment plan of your child’s cancer or blood disease.
Our physicians are committed to offering clinical trials at Comer Children's that give our patients access to new treatment and therapies that are not widely available.
Battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Comer Children’s pediatric oncologist helps toddler overcome childhood cancer.
