An update on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Malaysia

Active research in childhood cancers has led to impressive cure rates.

Nearly 400 children in Malaysia are diagnosed with blood cancer every year, with the most frequent type being acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). One in 2,000 children aged below 15 years will be diagnosed with ALL in their lifetime.

Cancer is now the leading cause of death in children and adolescents in most developed countries. No one knows why children develop cancer, but recent studies in childhood ALL have generated interesting findings.