Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming cells found in the bone marrow, the soft center of most bones, where blood cells are produced.

Childhood leukemia is classified into several types described as either acute or chronic. Acute means that the cancer is growing rapidly. Chronic means that it is growing more slowly.

Symptoms of leukemia vary depending on the type of leukemia. Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Persistent fatigue, weakness
• Frequent or severe infections
• Losing weight without trying
• Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
• Easy bleeding or bruising
• Recurrent nosebleeds
• Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)
• Excessive sweating, especially at night
• Bone pain or tenderness

Treatment for leukaemia depends on the age of your child, the biological features of the cancer and other factors identified during diagnosis.

There are four different types of leukemia in children:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) 80%
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 15%
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) 2%
• Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMMC) 1%

However, most people with known risk factors don't get leukemia, other people with leukemia have none of these risk factors.