What Is Childhood Leukemia?

Childhood leukemia is the most common type of cancer that affects children. Leukemia is a cancer of white blood cells that starts in bone marrow (the soft center part of bones), which produces blood cells. Once a leukemic cell develops, it multiplies quickly in the bone marrow and can prevent healthy blood cells from forming. Leukemic cells can spread to various parts of the body, including the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) and other organs such as the liver and kidneys. The cause of childhood leukemia is usually unknown, but in some rare cases, inherited genetic factors may play a role in development of childhood leukemia.