Introduction
Leukemia is the commonest childhood cancer.
Remarkable advances have been made in the treatment of leukemia. This condition was universally fatal 50 years ago but is now curable in the majority of cases.
Many children know about leukemia because of the story of Sadako.
She developed leukemia as a result of radiation exposure from the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Her best friend told her of an old Japanese legend that anyone who made a thousand paper cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako`s wish was to get better and run again. She made over a thousand cranes, but she died of leukemia when she was 12 years old. Paper cranes have subsequently become an international symbol of peace.
Here is a link to a Wikipedia page describing her life and what happened:
Picture of Sadako
The website "Chemo to the Rescue" by Mary Brent Knutsson describes her daughter's treatment for leukemia and features an excellent book she has designed for children undergoing leukemia treatment.
