Your child’s oncologist may recommend radiation treatment, based on your child’s type and risk level of leukemia. Because of the possibility of long-term damage, only a very small percentage of children with leukemia receive radiation treatment. Radiation may be prescribed for:

• Children who have a large number of leukemia blasts in their central nervous system (CNS) at diagnosis
• Children who are determined to be at extremely high risk for relapse
• Children who have relapsed in the CNS or testes
• Children who need stem cell transplants, although only some conditioning regimens include radiation

The types of radiation given to children with leukemia include cranial radiation (radiation to the entire brain), testicular radiation, and total body irradiation (TBI). Treatment for childhood leukemia is constantly evolving. Several ongoing clinical trials are evaluating other methods for preventing the spread of disease to the CNS and testes. Perhaps in the near future, no child with leukemia will need radiation. But for now, although side effects occur, radiation provides some children with their best chance to be cured.

After relapsing while on treatment, Stephan (7 years old) needed cranial radiation. They took him on a tour and explained in detail what would happen. All of his questions were answered. He would go in and hold perfectly still. We kept a bucket next to the bed, because he was on high-dose ARA-C, and after his radiation session, he would often need to lean over and vomit. He was so wonderful about it. He would go up to all of the older patients who were awaiting treatment and chat. He really reached out to them, and their eyes would just sparkle.