Incidence
Leukemias are the commonest form of pediatric cancer.
Incidence in Canada is 3 to 4 per 100,000 children/year.
From Canadian Cancer statistics 2011:
- In Canada between 2003 and 2007:
- The most commonly diagnosed childhood cancer was leukemia which accounted for 26% of all newly diagnosed cases
- Total number of cases of leukemia: 1,716
- Lymphoid leukemias (ALL): 73% of all (1257 new cases of ALL)
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): 16% of all (269 new cases of AML)
- Survival of those diagnosed with AML (67%) was considerably less than for those diagnosed with ALL (89%).
- Between 2002 and 2006:
- 124 children died of ALL
- 67 children died of AML
Relative Incidence of Leukemias in Children:
| Diagnosis | % Childhood Cancer |
% Childhood Leukemia |
Peak Age Group |
ALL |
25% |
75% | 2 – 4 years |
AML |
5% |
15 – 20% | Neonate/Teen |
CML |
<1% |
<5% | None |
50 years ago:
- Leukemia was almost universally fatal
- Mean time from diagnosis of leukemia to death was only 4 months
Today:
- Standard risk ALL: 90% cure
- High Risk ALL: over 75% cure
- AML: 50 to 60% 5 year EFS (event free survival)
Age-Standardized Incidence and Mortality Rates for Leukemia in Children and Youth (0–19 Years), Canada, 1985–2011:
