The symptoms of childhood leukemia can come on suddenly. At first, it might seem like a cold your child just can’t shake. Or bruises that take a little too long to heal. Your pediatrician sent in lab work, and now they want you to see a cancer specialist, or oncologist.
At UVA Health Children’s, we understand how overwhelming a childhood leukemia diagnosis can be. Our dedicated team of cancer specialists is here to focus on the needs of your family. Our combination of cutting-edge treatments, compassionate care, and support ensures the best outcomes for children and their families.
What Is Childhood Leukemia?
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow. It causes the rapid and abnormal growth of blood cells. This creates problems with fighting infections, healing normally, and other bodily functions.
Leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancer. With early and effective treatment, outcomes improve significantly.
Types of Leukemia We Treat
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): The most common type of leukemia in children.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): This form of leukemia is less common but requires aggressive treatment.
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML): These rare leukemias can be treated with advanced options.
Our Treatment Approach
Our leukemia care team includes pediatric oncologists, geneticists, nurses, nutritionists, physical therapists, and child life specialists. We work together to provide treatment for your child that addresses their needs.
What Is the Children’s Oncology Group?
UVA Health Children’s is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group. This international organization brings together research from more than 200 institutions, representing more than 10,000 childhood cancer experts. This association means we can offer the best treatments available and find promising clinical trials for your family.
Types of Treatment
We’ll work with you to determine the right treatment for your child based on:
- The type of leukemia they have
- Their age
- The severity of the illness
- Cytogenetic analysis
We’ll combine evidence-based and innovative approaches to give each child the best chance for recovery. Depending on what we find, treatment may take one or more of these approaches.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the cornerstone of leukemia treatment. For many children, it’s the only treatment they need. But chemo can have side effects that are difficult for most patients.
Our team will make sure we’re tailoring treatment for your child. And we’ll be right beside you to manage side effects. With support, we’ll work to keep your child as comfortable as possible through treatment.
Targeted Therapies
Even cancer cells have genes. And when those genes have specific mutations, we can target therapies. This lets us target the cancer cells and preserve your child’s healthy cells. Genetic testing is an important part of cancer treatment.
Immunotherapy
Through innovative CAR T-Cell therapy, we can teach your child’s immune system to fight leukemia cells. We’re proud to be one of the few centers in the region that can offer CAR T-cell therapy.
Stem Cell & Bone Marrow Transplants
In some cases, a stem cell or bone marrow transplant may be a good treatment option. We will work with your family to coordinate care.
Radiation Therapy
When leukemia cells are present in the brain or spinal fluid, we may need to use radiation therapy. This uses strong beams of energy to kill cancer cells. We’ll use the smallest amount of radiation possible and target it precisely. But this type of therapy still has a high risk of late effects. We will talk through ways to manage these effects.
Why Choose UVA Health Children’s?
Our pediatric leukemia program offers advanced treatment options, comprehensive support services, and compassionate care.
Our affiliation with the Children’s Oncology Group means our doctors are collaborating and using the same methods of treatment as other top children’s hospitals in the country. You’ll have access to the latest clinical trials and therapies. But you’ll also get access to your child’s care team through treatment and recovery.
The journey you’re on is a marathon, not a sprint. And we will be with you every step of the way. As partners in your child’s care, we’ll help your child long after treatment and into recovery.
Cancer Survivor Turned Competitive Gymnast
Anna Pitts underwent two-and-a-half years of chemo for childhood leukemia, beginning before her second birthday. Now a teenager, she's thriving as a competitive gymnast.
