What is it?
Leukaemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. These cells are made in the bone marrow and help to fight infection. There are two types of white blood cells which can both be affected by leukaemia: lymphoid cells and myeloid cells.
Most childhood leukemia’s are acute, meaning they develop very quickly, chronic leukemia, however, progresses very slowly over many years.
Who does it affect?
In the UK, leukaemia makes up one-third of all childhood cancers and more than half affect children under the age of 5.
Chronic Leukemia’s are very rare in children and young people. There is less than 15 childhood diagnosis’ of CML every year in the UK.
Find out more
You can read more about the types of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and it’s treatment.