Incidence
Leukemias are the commonest form of pediatric cancer.
Incidence in Canada is 3 to 4 per 100,000 children/year.
33% of all new cancers in children are leukemias.
In Canada Between 2000 and 2004 : 1,380 children (aged 0 - 14 years) were diagnosed with leukemia. Of those:
- 1,091 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- 176 acute and chronic myeloid (AML and CML)
- 184 children died of leukemia
- 51 of deaths were in children with AML
Relative Incidence of Leukemias in Children:
| Diagnosis | % Childhood Cancer |
% Childhood Leukemia |
Peak Age Group |
ALL |
25% |
75% | 2 – 4 years |
AML |
5% |
15 – 20% | Neonate/Teen |
CML |
<1% |
<5% | None |
50 years ago:
- Leukemia was lmost universally fatal
- Mean time from diagnosis of leukemia to death was only 4 months
Today:
- Standard risk ALL: 90% cure
- High Risk ALL: over 75% cure
- AML: 50 to 60% 5 year EFS (event free survival)
