Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

Over the past thirty years the survival rate for ALL Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia has improved considerably. However, that is not comforting when you or your love-ones have been diagnosed with leukemia. Although treatment for leukemia is very successful it can be a long road to travel. It can take from two to three and a half years; the first three to six months the patient must be watched and checked constantly, but during the maintenance stage children can go back to school and live a relatively normal life.

The following are a few coping tricks for parents.

Get to know the health team at the Pediatric Cancer Centers. The team consists of Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Recreation Therapists, Childcare Workers, Teachers, Dietitians, Chaplains and Social Workers. They are there for you to rely on every inch of the long road whether it is explaining procedures to children without scarring them, financial assistance, housing arrangements for parents during their child’s treatments.

Major medical centers and not-for-profit groups provide many different activities and services just for children with cancer and their families. Some include support groups for siblings, summer camps and wish granting programs.

Assists family and friends in understanding your situation and what you are going through. www.caringbridge.org is a free personalized web page (not-for-profit) site. It assists by easing the stress of calling everyone whenever there is something new to report. On this site one can list appointments, treatments, health setbacks and the celebrations. It also allows others to send notes of encouragement even if they are out of town or the country.