|  |  |  | | | | FIGHTING CHILDHOOD LEUKAEMIA | | | | |
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Release Date: 29th March 2005
National charity Leukaemia Research has launched a new booklet for parents and those affected by childhood leukaemia: Fighting Childhood Leukaemia.
Outlining the important work that the charity has undertaken in this area, the brochure explains Leukaemia Research's commitment to diagnosis, understanding the causes, treatment and the future of this most common childhood cancer.
Soccer superstar and Leukaemia Research supporter since he and his family discovered their son had leukaemia, Gary Lineker knows the anguish childhood leukaemia can cause. He says:
"Michelle and I have been involved with Leukaemia Research since our son George had leukaemia as a baby. It goes without saying that these were the worst years of our life.
"Thankfully George has now defeated leukaemia and is now a healthy child. We want to do all we can to help other children who face the same battle."
Causes of childhood leukaemia are a concern for the charity. Currently scientists at the University of York are leading one of the world’s largest ever studies of children diagnosed with leukaemia between 1991 and 1998. The aim is to pinpoint any environmental or biological factors that may cause disease.
Developing ways to deliver less aggressive treatments for children is another priority for Leukaemia Research. The charity has been involved in one of the most crucial developments in the treatment of childhood leukaemia in the last 20 years, the detection of minimal residual disease. This test enables doctors to select children at high risk of relapse to receive early treatment. Equally those at lower risk will be spared unnecessarily aggressive treatment.
"Over the next five years we are already committed to more than £12 million of research into childhood leukaemia throughout the UK," said Dr David Grant, Scientific Director, Leukaemia Research.
"We are attacking on all fronts – causation, prevention, treatment and cure. Each new piece of research adds to our understanding of these life-threatening diseases which in turn means better treatment and brings us closer to a cure."
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