What is leukaemia?

Acute myeloid leukaemia

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an overproduction of immature myeloid cells, called myeloblasts. Around 76 of new cases of childhood AML are diagnosed every year in the UK, which accounts for 15% of children’s leukaemia cancer cases.

We need to find new treatments for acute myeloid leukaemia, particularly for children whose disease comes back.

Dr Rogosic.

We’re funding Dr Rogosic to develop a new treatment for AML which could give these children a better chance of survival from this aggressive form of cancer.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia

Most childhood leukaemias are ‘acute’ meaning that they develop and progress rapidly. CML is a chronic leukaemia – meaning it develops slowly, often over many years. CML is rare in children, with around 5 cases per year in the UK. In addition, there are around 28 cases in teenagers and young adults each year.

Andy was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia at the age of 18.

This came as an enormous shock to me and the family. We had only just come to terms with the news that my Mum had terminal bowel cancer and I was just a week away from going to university.

Andy.