|  |  |  | | | | Response to recent media reports on the link between day care attendance and childhood leukaemia | | | | |
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Release Date: 29 April 2008
There have been reports in the press and broadcast media (Tuesday 29 April 2008) that children who attend day care have a 30% lower risk of developing leukaemia.
Dr David Grant, Scientific Director with the UK's leading blood cancer charity Leukaemia Research says: "The study adds to growing evidence that there is a link between childhood leukaemia and an abnormal response by the immune system to infection. However there is no evidence to suggest that mothers that stay at home and look after their children in the pre-school years are putting their children at an increased risk of developing leukaemia.
"Moreover breast-feeding does not stimulate the immune system and so this will not decrease a child's risk of leukaemia either. More research is definitely needed to identify the triggers that stress the immune system and when these occur in early life, as this will unravel the events that cause leukaemia to develop."
Unfortunately, many of the press reports have given the impression that this study shows that attendance at daycare centres is a major risk reduction, justifying a change in life style. But it is important to remember that even though leukaemia is the commonest childhood cancer, it is still rare with a risk of about 1 case per 10,000 children per year.
The risk per year is thus about 0.01% and a 30% reduction is a 0.003% reduction in the chance of any given child developing leukaemia. It is unlikely that many, if any, parents would consider a difference of 0.003% in risk could justify changing their decision about childcare.
Although such studies are important in building a scientific understanding of risk factors, the impact at an individual level is so small that no parent should ever feel responsible in any way if their child has developed leukaemia.
Leukaemia Research is dedicated to funding vital research into better treatments and cures for blood cancers; the survival rate for childhood leukaemia is now 80 percent compared to 20 percent 25 years ago.
For further information contact:
Kenneth Campbell, MSc (Clin Onc)
Clinical Information Officer
Leukaemia Research
Telephone: 020 7269 9060
Fax: 020 7242 1488
Email: kcampbell@lrf.org.uk
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