Childhood leukaemia
Leukaemia is the most common form of blood cancer in children. Leukaemia is a blood cancer that affects the white blood cells, a really important part of our immune system that fights infection.
When a child has leukaemia, control of blood cell production breaks down. The bone marrow - the soft tissue in the middle of our bones where all our blood cells are made - makes lots of abnormal white blood, or leukaemia cells. These never mature into proper white blood cells, vital to a healthy immune system, and so children with leukaemia are at more risk of infection.
Jenna Bradley, who was born with a rare form of cystic fibrosis, was diagnosed with leukaemia in August 2011 aged just three, after she had become very tired, pale and had developed a rash.
Information booklets
Our booklets cover all the blood cancers and related disorders.
Leukaemia research
Read about research we're funding to beat childhood leukaemia.
To meet our scientists and doctors and learn about how their work is beating leukaemia, join us at our York reception in May.
Useful links
Blood Cancer facts
Anyone can get a blood cancer at any age. Around 30,000 people, from babies to grandparents, are diagnosed with blood cancer every year in the UK.