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Because of new and better therapies, cancer survival rates for children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have improved dramatically during the last several decades. Scientists continue to search for the causes of childhood leukemia so they can develop better treatments with less toxic side effects.
Find facts and statistics for childhood AML and other blood cancers.
Caring for Kids and Adolescents with Blood Cancer: A Workbook for Families provides information, resources, and worksheets to use throughout your child's cancer journey. Call a Blood Cancer Information Specialist at 800-955-4572 to order a copy.
Signs and symptoms of AML in children
Signs and symptoms are changes in the body that may indicate the presence of disease. A sign is a change that the doctor sees during an exam or in a laboratory test result. A symptom is a change that a patient can see and/or feel.
It is common for children with AML to feel a loss of well-being because of the underproduction of normal bone marrow cells.
Symptoms of a low red blood cell count (called “anemia”) include the following:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath during normal physical activities
- Decreased activity/decreased play
- Increased sleep/naps
- Lightheadedness, dizziness or faintness
- Headaches
- Pale complexion
Symptoms of a low white blood cell count (called “neutropenia”) include the following:
- Frequent infections
Symptoms of a low platelet count (called “thrombocytopenia”) include the following:
- Bruising easily
- Pinhead-sized red spots on the skin, called “petechiae”
- Bleeding that is hard to stop, even from a small cut
- Frequent or severe nosebleeds
- Bleeding gums
- Heavier or more frequent menstrual periods
Other general symptoms of AML include the following:
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Bone and joint pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Fullness or swelling in the abdomen due to an enlarged spleen or liver
- Sore red gums and mouth sores
The signs and symptoms of AML are common to other, less serious illnesses. However, if your child is troubled by any of the symptoms above, see a pediatrician.
Diagnosing AML in children
View a 3D model of AML’s impact on the body. Click or tap the "Interact in 3D" button to begin.
An accurate diagnosis of the type of leukemia is important. The exact diagnosis helps the doctor estimate how the disease will progress and determine the appropriate treatment.
Diagnosing AML in children and identifying their AML subtype usually involves a series of tests. Some of these tests may be repeated during and after therapy to measure the effects of treatment.
This infographic describes the steps doctors take to diagnose an acute leukemia.
Pre-treatment testing
After your child has been diagnosed with AML and before they start treatment, tests will be done to learn more about your child’s overall health. Tests may include:
- Blood chemistry profile
- Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing: An HLA test is done before allogeneic stem cell transplantation to find out if there is a tissue match between a potential donor and the patient
- Echocardiogram to test heart function
- Other types of tests
Blood and bone marrow tests
Blood and bone marrow tests are used to diagnose AML and the AML subtype. A change in the number and appearance of blood cells helps to make the diagnosis. Open each section below to learn more.
Blood samples are generally taken from a vein in the arm. The blood sample is sent to a lab for testing.
Complete blood count (CBC) with differential: This test measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Children with AML often have a high number of white blood cells, but most of these are leukemic blast cells that do not protect against infection. They also usually have a low number of red blood cells and platelets.
Even if blood test results suggest that your child has leukemia, an AML diagnosis is usually made only after the examination of the bone marrow cells.
These two procedures are generally done at the same time in a doctor's office or a hospital. Most children are under sedation or general anesthesia during these procedures. The samples are usually taken from the hip bone using specialized needles. Both samples are examined under a microscope to look for chromosomal and other cell changes.
- A bone marrow aspiration to remove a liquid marrow sample
- A bone marrow biopsy to remove a small amount of bone filled with marrow
Learn more about bone marrow tests.
View the interactive 3D model to help you visualize and better understand the procedure. Click or tap the "Interact in 3D" button to begin.
AML cells can spread to the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that flows around the brain and spinal cord. After the area over the spine in the lower part of the back has been numbed with local anesthesia, a thin needle is inserted between two vertebrae (back bones) and into the cerebrospinal fluid. The sample is sent to a lab for testing.
View the interactive 3D model to help you visualize and better understand the procedure. Click or tap the "Interact in 3D" button to begin.
Blood, bone marrow, and cerebrospinal fluid samples are examined under a microscope to determine if the cells look like normal, mature blood cells or abnormal, immature blood cells (blast cells).
Typically, there are no blast cells in the blood, and no more than 5 percent of the cells in the bone marrow are blast cells. A diagnosis of AML generally requires a finding of 20 percent or more of the cells in the bone marrow sample to be myeloid blast cells.
A flow cytometry test can measure the number and specific characteristics of cells in a sample (such as their size and shape), as well as identify specific markers on the cell surface. Leukemia cells can have different antigens on their surfaces, depending on the type of leukemia. In addition to its use as a diagnostic test, flow cytometry is also used after treatment for evaluating minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD), which refers to the small number of cancer cells that may remain in the body after treatment. You can learn more about MRD in the Chemotherapy and Drug Treatment section.
Genetic tests
The following tests are used to identify, examine, and measure chromosomes and genes. Open each section below to learn more.
This test uses a microscope to examine the chromosomes inside the cells. Chromosomes are the part of a cell that contains genetic information. Normal human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46 chromosomes. The chromosomes are a certain size, shape, and structure. In some cases of AML, the chromosomes of the leukemia cells have abnormal changes.
Cytogenetic testing is done with either a bone marrow or blood sample. The leukemia cells are allowed to grow in a laboratory and then stained. The sample is then examined to see the arrangement of the chromosomes, called a “karyotype.” The karyotype shows if there are any abnormal changes in the leukemia cells. In some cases, this provides important information to determine treatment options and prognosis.
This very sensitive test is used to examine genes or chromosomes in cells and tissues. Doctors use FISH to detect certain abnormal changes in the chromosomes and genes of leukemia cells. Pieces of DNA that contain special fluorescent dyes are prepared in the laboratory and added to the leukemia cells on a glass slide. The pieces of DNA that bind to certain genes or areas of chromosomes light up when the slide is viewed under a specialized “fluorescence” microscope.
Not only can FISH identify most abnormal changes that can be seen with karyotype testing under a microscope, but it can also detect some changes that are too small to be seen with karyotype testing. It is not, however, used as a general screening tool. FISH has one disadvantage—before the test is performed, the doctor must select the specific chromosomes or genes that are going to be examined.
A PCR is a very sensitive test that finds and measures genetic mutations and chromosome changes that are too small to be seen with other tests or even with a powerful microscope. PCR can find a single leukemia cell in approximately 100,000 normal cells. This test is given during treatment or after treatment, and the results allow doctors to determine the amount of minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD), the small number of cancer cells left in the body after treatment.
This test uses blood or bone marrow samples to look for mutations in the genes of AML cells. Certain mutations are markers that can help doctors identify a patient's AML subtype and predict how the disease will progress. DNA sequencing should be done when the cancer is first diagnosed. It should also be done after relapse because the cancer may aquire additional genetic abnormalities.
AML subtypes
Determining the AML subtype is an important factor in treatment planning for your child. This determination is made based on certain features of the leukemia cells identified with the diagnostic tests. The doctor will speak with you about the drugs and “treatment protocols” (detailed plans of treatments and procedures) that are indicated based on your child’s AML subtype.
Find a list of the WHO classification system of AML subtypes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Children and Teens: In Detail (PDF).
After diagnosis: Navigating your child's care
Navigating your child’s blood cancer care isn’t always simple or straightforward—but we’re here to guide you through it. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or in remission, you’ll find the information, support, and resources you need to navigate every step of your child’s blood cancer journey.
Visit Navigating Your Care: Children and Teens
Treatment for children with AML
The main treatment for AML is chemotherapy given in phases, but not every child with AML receives the same treatment. Your child’s doctor will tailor treatment based on their AML subtype and other factors, such as age, health, and how the cancer responds to treatment.
AML treatment for children consists of multiple phases. Open each section below to learn more.
Chemotherapy drugs kill fast-growing cells throughout the body, including both cancer cells and normal, healthy cells.
Chemotherapy is typically given in cycles. Each cycle is made up of a certain number of days of treatment, followed by a certain number of days of rest. The rest days allow the body time to recover before the next treatment cycle begins.
Some chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously, meaning they are injected into a vein. During an intravenous (IV) infusion, the drugs are injected slowly over the course of a few hours, or several days in the case of a continuous infusion.
Phases of treatment
AML is often treated in two phases:
- Induction therapy
- Consolidation (intensification) therapy
Induction therapy
The goal of induction therapy is to destroy as many cancer cells as possible to achieve remission. In patients with AML, remission means that there are less than 5 percent of blasts in the bone marrow and that blood counts have returned to normal.
Children with AML often receive two rounds of chemotherapy. During the first round, children often stay in the hospital for four weeks to receive supportive care with IV antibiotics and frequent blood transfusions. During this time the doctor will order blood and bone marrow tests to see how well the treatment is working.
After blood cell counts recover, children may go home for a few days or a week and then return to the hospital for the second round of induction, followed by another four weeks of recovery in the hospital. The second round of induction therapy may contain the same drugs that were used in the first round, or it may be a new chemotherapy regimen.
The chemotherapy regimen used most during the induction phase in children with AML includes cytarabine and an anthracycline. Daunorubicin (Cerubidine®) is the anthracycline most often used for this regimen, although idarubicin (Idamycin®) and mitoxantrone (Novantrone®) are sometimes used.If an anthracycline is given, your doctor may administer another drug, dexrazoxane (Totect®, Zinecard®), around the same time as the anthracycline. This drug is not a chemotherapy agent, but it helps to minimize cardiac side effects that are associated with anthracyclines. Other chemotherapy drugs may be added to the cytarabine and anthracycline, such as VP-16 (Etopophos®, VePesid®) or thioguanine (Tabloid®).
In addition to chemotherapy, children may receive targeted therapies during induction. This may include:
- Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg™)
- An FLT3 inhibitor (for patients with FLT3 mutations) such as sorafenib (Nexavar®) or midostaurin (Rydapt®).
Treatment for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the M3 subtype of AML, differs from other AML treatments.
Learn more about APL.
AML patients whose leukemia cells have certain genetic mutations are assigned a specific risk status. Talk to your doctor about treatments available to target specific genetic mutations. Learn more in our fact sheet, Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment. (PDF)
Treatment response and minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD): Approximately 75 percent to 80 percent of children with AML achieve remission by the end of induction therapy. However, even when complete remission is achieved, some leukemia cells that cannot be seen with a microscope may remain in the body. This is referred to as “minimal residual disease (MRD),” also called “measurable residual disease.”
Patients who have achieved remission after initial treatment but have MRD are at increased risk of disease relapse. Testing for MRD can help the doctor re-evaluate your child’s AML risk category and determine whether they may benefit from receiving further treatment with more intensive therapies.
For patients who do not achieve remission after the first course of induction chemotherapy, additional courses of chemotherapy may be given, either with the same drugs or with a new chemotherapy regimen.
Central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis: Pediatric treatment regimens typically include treatment to prevent the spread of leukemia cells to the brain and spinal cord,as well as to kill any leukemia cells that may already be there. The CNS-directed therapy begins during the induction phase and continues throughout the rest of treatment.
Some form of intrathecal chemotherapy is now incorporated into most protocols for the treatment of childhood AML. “Intrathecal” means that the chemotherapy drugs are injected into the fluid-filled space between the thin layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Intrathecal chemotherapy can be combined with the other types of chemotherapy that are given during the induction phase of treatment. The most common intrathecal chemotherapy drug used in children with AML is cytarabine.
If AML cells are found in the CNS at the time of diagnosis, a more intensive CNS-directed therapy is used. In these cases, additional drugs are included in the intrathecal therapy, such as methotrexate and a corticosteroid.
Consolidation (Intensification) therapy
Consolidation (intensification) therapy refers to treatments given to patients after their disease is in complete remission. It is given to children with AML after they complete induction therapy. The goal of consolidation therapy is to eliminate the residual leukemia cells in the body.
There are two basic treatment options for consolidation therapy:
- Additional intensive chemotherapy
- Stem cell transplantation
Patients with favorable risk factors are often given two to three additional cycles of intensive chemotherapy with high-dose cytarabine and other drugs for consolidation therapy. The number of chemotherapy cycles varies from patient to patient. They are often hospitalized during consolidation therapy. They may go home for a few days or a week between cycles. Additionally, CNS prophylaxis usually continues during this phase.
Based on their prognostic factors, patients with high-risk AML receive more aggressive therapy that may include allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
For information about the drugs listed on this page, visit our cancer drug listing or learn more about chemotherapy treatment for children.
For some high-risk patients, the doctor may recommend stem cell transplantation during the consolidation phase of chemotherapy.
First the patient receives intensive chemotherapy to kill the remaining leukemic cells in the patient's body. This also destroys the normal stem cells in the patient's bone marrow. After the chemotherapy, the patient receives an infusion of stem cells to replace the stem cells destroyed by the intensive therapy. These new stem cells restore healthy stem cells in the bone marrow that can form new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
There are two main types of stem cell transplantation: allogeneic, which uses stem cells from a healthy donor; and autologous, which uses stem cells from the patient, and is not typically used for treating AML patients.
Research to determine which patients are most likely to benefit from stem cell transplantation after their first complete remission is evolving. Studies show that allogeneic stem cell transplantation may benefit high-risk and intermediate-risk AML patients who have an HLA-matched sibling donor.
This is the most common type of stem cell transplantation used to treat AML. Allogeneic transplantation uses healthy blood-forming cells from an HLA-matched family member, an unrelated donor, or from umbilical cord blood. The donated stem cells restore the bone marrow’s ability to form new blood cells. Ideally, an allogeneic stem cell transplant will generate a new immune system for the patient. The immune system helps the body fight infections and other diseases. The new immune system also has the potential to recognize and attack any remaining cancer cells. The transplanted immune cells (the graft) perceive the leukemia cells in the body as foreign and destroy them. This is called the “graft-versus-leukemia” (GVL) effect.
Compared to other treatment approaches, allogeneic stem cell transplantation is associated with a higher rate of side effects and mortality in patients. However, it may be considered for patients with higher-risk AML, based on their AML subtype and response to induction therapy. The decision to perform an allogeneic stem cell transplantation also depends on a child’s age, overall health, and availability of an HLA-matched donor.
Different types of allogenic stem cell transplantation include:
Mismatched unrelated donor transplantation: Your doctor will try to match 10–12 HLA markers to lower the risk of graft-versus-host disease (see below). In recent years, advances in medicine have allowed for the use of stem cell donors who are mismatched, meaning that not all 10 or 12 markers are a perfect match. Use of medications following transplant allows for mismatched donors while still lowering the risk of graft-versus-host disease.
Haploidentical transplantation: To increase the number of potential donors, some transplant centers have begun to perform half-match (haploidentical) transplants for patients who cannot find a closely matched HLA donor. In many cases, a healthy first-degree relative (a parent, sibling, or child) can be a half-match donor and donate stem cells. Because a child receives half of their HLA markers from a parent, a biological child and their parent will always be a half match, while there is only a 50 percent chance of a sibling being a half match. As a result, most individuals will have a suitable related haploidentical donor.
Cord blood transplantation: Cord blood is blood taken from the umbilical cords of newborn babies. Cord blood may be an option for patients without a well-matched donor. Unfortunately, cord blood units tend to contain fewer stem cells and may be difficult to use in people with larger body sizes. Cord blood transplant patients also have an increased risk of graft failure. However, cord blood is available much more quickly (potentially within 2 to 4 weeks), while it may take a month or more to obtain matched unrelated donor grafts. Another advantage of cord blood transplants is that cord blood may require a lower level of HLA matching between the donor and recipient.
When it comes to finding the right treatment for your child's cancer, a clinical trial may be an option. Your child will have access to new or improved therapies under study and not yet on the market. Discuss with your child's doctor the possibility of participating in a clinical trial, where treatment is administered in a safe, closely monitored environment.
Learn more about clinical trials.
Get free clinical trial support! Visit our Clinical Trial Support Center (CTSC).
Connect with registered nurses with expertise in blood cancers who can personally assist you or your caregiver through each step of the clinical trial process.
Side effects of AML treatment
Both cancer therapy and AML can produce side effects. For most patients, side effects are temporary and subside once the body adjusts to therapy, or when therapy is completed. For other patients, side effects can be more severe, sometimes requiring hospitalization. The side effects of chemotherapy may vary, depending on the drugs used and the overall health of the patient.
Talk with your child’s doctor about potential side effects. Drugs and other therapies can prevent or manage many side effects.
There are common side effects associated with AML and its treatment. Open each section below to learn more.
AML decreases the production of normal blood cells. In addition, chemotherapy is toxic to both normal blood cells and AML cells. The normal blood cells are eliminated from the marrow along with AML cells. For the patient, this can lead to:
- Anemia: low red blood cell count
- Thrombocytopenia: low platelet count
- Neutropenia: low neutrophil (a type of white blood cell) count
Children with severe or prolonged low red blood cell and platelet counts almost always need to receive transfusions of both red blood cells and platelets for several weeks during treatment for AML. After that, the blood cell counts usually return to normal levels.
During AML treatment, low white blood cell counts can increase the risk of infections. When patients have a low white blood cell count, antibiotics are commonly given to prevent bacterial infection, and other drugs are given to prevent fungal and viral infections. Encourage your child and family to practice frequent and vigorous handwashing and take other precautions to avoid exposing your child to bacteria, viruses, and other infection-causing agents. Caregivers of children who have central lines or ports need to carefully clean the sites as instructed by the child’s medical team.
Seek medical attention immediately if your child shows any signs of infections, including the following:
- A temperature of 100.4°F or higher
- Chills
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Pain during urination
- Diarrhea
Children with AML may be at risk for developing a condition called “tumor lysis syndrome” (TLS). This condition occurs when a large number of cancer cells die within a short period of time, releasing their contents into the blood. TLS can be severe during the early phases of treatment, especially for children who have very high white blood cell counts before they start induction therapy. Uric acid is one of the chemicals released by dying cancer cells; very high levels of uric acid and other chemicals can cause severe damage to the kidneys and heart.
If untreated, TLS can lead to heart arrhythmias, seizures, loss of muscle control, acute kidney failure, and even death. Supportive care should include hydration to reduce the risk of developing TLS. IV fluids are usually started at the time of diagnosis and are continued throughout chemotherapy to prevent chemical imbalances in the blood, as well as to support kidney function. Medicines used to treat high uric acid include allopurinol (Zyloprim®) or rasburicase (Elitek®), which prevent or lessen the effects of this condition.
This is a potentially life-threatening complication of treatment with differentiating agents, such as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). It usually occurs within 1 to 2 weeks after the beginning of treatment, but it can occur later. Symptoms include fever, swelling in the limbs, and trouble breathing. Patients may also experience a drop in blood pressure and have fluid build-up around the lungs or heart. Treatment consists of steroid therapy or administration of the antimetabolite drug hydroxyurea and must begin when the first signs or symptoms appear.
A serious risk of allogeneic and reduced-intensity allogenic stem cell transplantation is graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which develops if the donor's immune cells attack your normal tissue. GVHD's effects can range from minor to life threatening.
- Hair loss
- Rashes
- Itchy skin
- Mouth sores
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Headaches
- Fatigue
These short-term side effects usually go away once a patient has completed treatment. There are drugs and other supportive therapies to either prevent or manage many side effects.
Fertility planning
Some cancer treatments can affect your child’s fertility (the ability to have children in the future). Before your child begins treatment, it is important to talk with the doctor about whether the treatment could affect your child’s fertility. You may also want to speak with a fertility specialist. A fertility specialist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats problems related to infertility. The fertility specialist can talk to you about possible options for preserving your child’s fertility.
Learn more about reproductive health planning for children who may undergo treatment for blood cancer.
Managing school
During treatment, there will be times when your child may be unable to attend school in person. However, there are resources to help your child continue to receive an education so that they will not fall behind.
Once your child is in remission, they will likely be going back to school. This reentry to the classroom can be daunting for a child of any age. Educate family members, friends, school personnel, and healthcare providers about your child's possible long-term and late effects of treatment. Work with your child's teachers and medical providers to develop a program tailored to the child’s needs that features baseline testing, special accommodations, and long-term planning.
Neuropsychological testing: Any child who is at risk for cognitive effects, or is having difficulty in school, should have neuropsychological testing done by a licensed pediatric psychologist or neuropsychologist to check for possible learning challenges. Ask your child’s healthcare team for a referral. Find out if neuropsychological testing is covered by insurance, as it can be expensive. When testing is complete, schedule time for the neuropsychologist to explain the results and make any recommendations for adjustments or accommodations that can support your child at school. If needed, ask the neuropsychologist to help explain the recommendations to the school staff. These recommendations will also be used to help determine if your child needs a formal education plan, such as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan.
School psychological assessment: If neuropsychological testing is not an option, a school-based assessment may help to determine your child’s educational needs (or may be required by the school). These assessments are usually performed to determine if your child is eligible for special education programs. Generally, school-based assessments are less effective at linking cancer treatment with learning or behavior problems. Ask your child’s school administrators for more information.
Find information, support, and resources for schooling during your child’s blood cancer treatment.
Relapsed and refractory childhood AML
Refractory AML: Some patients have residual leukemia cells in their bone marrow even after they receive intensive treatment for AML. In these cases, the disease is referred to as “refractory” (or “refractory AML”). Less than 15 percent of children have refractory AML.
Relapsed AML: Other patients achieve remission but later have a return of leukemia cells in their bone marrow. This is referred to as a “relapse” of the disease (or “relapsed AML”). Approximately 50 percent of children with AML will have disease relapse.
At the time of relapse, genetic testing of the leukemia cells is recommended. The mutational pattern at the time of relapse may be different from when the disease was first diagnosed, and this can affect treatment decisions.
Treatment options for relapsed and refractory AML
In relapsed and refractory cases of AML, the disease is often hard to cure. Treatment is typically more intensive than for newly diagnosed cases and may include stem cell transplantation (for eligible patients). Treatment options for patients with refractory or relapsed AML include the following:
- A clinical trial
- Re-treatment with the same induction regimen that produced the patient’s first remission
- Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg™)
- Revumenib (Revuforj®)
- Allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Long-term and late effects of treatment for children with AML
While treatments for AML have led to increased survival rates, some may cause significant long-term or late effects. Long-term effects of cancer treatment are medical problems that last for months or years after treatment ends. Late effects are medical problems that do not appear until years, or even possibly decades, after treatment ends.
The long-term and late effects of childhood AML treatment can include:
- Fatigue
- Growth delays
- Bone health issues
- Damage to heart, thyroid, or other organs
- Obesity
- Fertility problems
- A secondary cancer
Ask your child’s healthcare team the following questions:
- What long-term and late effects are my child at risk for based on their treatment plan, age, sex, and overall health?
- What screenings will my child need to undergo for these effects? How frequently will they need to be screened?
- Will a healthcare provider coordinate these screenings? If so, which one?
Follow-up care
Your child will undergo frequent follow-up tests during the first year after treatment, but these tests will be needed less often during the second and third years. Each patient has a different follow-up care schedule. How often your child has follow-up visits is based on your child’s type of AML and the treatments given. Your child’s doctor will let you know the schedule that is right for your child.
Children should visit their pediatrician or doctor at least once a year for a complete physical exam and any additional needed tests. The child’s oncologist should also regularly examine them.
Regular doctor visits are encouraged to help with the following:
- Enabling doctors to assess the full effect of therapy
- Detecting and treating disease recurrence
- Completing vaccination schedule, as appropriate
- Identifying and managing long-term and late effects of treatment
The pediatrician should recommend a schedule for having the child's learning skills assessed. If the child appears to be experiencing learning disabilities, special education methods can help.
Coordination between the child's pediatrician and oncologist is important for the best care possible. Some treatment centers offer comprehensive follow-up care clinics for childhood cancer survivors.
Find more information about follow-up care, including what to expect, long-term and late effects of treatment, survivorship clinics, and other resources, such as The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines.
Survivorship care plan
Generally, “survivorship” refers to the health and well-being of a person after cancer treatment. Your child’s oncologist will help create a survivorship care plan for your child to guide follow-up care. Share the survivorship care plan with any healthcare providers your child sees. Learn more about survivorship care plans.
Read Beyond Treatment (PDF) from our Caring for Kids and Adolescents with Blood Cancer workbook for more information on survivorship and life after treatment.
Our Survivorship Workbook allows you to collect all the important information you and your child needs throughout diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, and long-term management of a blood cancer.
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