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Breakthrough as cancer genes found

(The Scotsman 17/08/2009)

TWO gene mutations that cause one of the commonest forms of childhood cancer have been discovered by scientists. The breakthrough could lead to the development of new treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) which strikes down about 400 youngsters in the UK each year. It accounts for about 80 per cent of leukaemia cases in children, and is most often found among two to five-year-olds. It is a cancer of the white blood cells and is deadly if left untreated.

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A love of pigs helps a toddler fight leukaemia

(BBC 29/07/2009)

Catherine was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia exactly a year ago after she started bruising very easily. She underwent courses of chemotherapy but was seriously ill and her parents feared they might lose her. She has had eight transfusions in the past four weeks and was having more chemotherapy at the Cardiff Children's Hospital on Wednesday. But only-child Catherine is battling through it and her parents are hoping she will be well enough to start nursery school later this year.

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Infection killing cancer children

(BBC 10/05/2009)

More needs to be done to prevent children with cancer (eg childhood leukemia) dying from infection, researchers say. Analysis of death certificates in England and Wales over a two-year period found infection was the cause of death in 82 child cancer patients. Such deaths could well be preventable if better strategies were in place to avoid, diagnose and treat infections, the UK researchers said. The findings appear in the journal Pediatric Blood and Cancer.

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