Childhood leukemia and its impact on graduation and having children: results from a national survey

Abstract

To assess the level of graduation, the wish to have children and the course of pregnancy among former patients with childhood leukemia in comparison to the general German population and depending on gender, a nationwide survey was conducted in 2008. In total 63.6% (1476/2319) of the contacted survivors of childhood leukemia participated (mean age 25.7 years, range 19–43 years). Survivors graduated at higher levels of school compared to the general population, with 48.6% (female) versus 38.0% and 52.6% (male) versus 35.8% (p 0.001). Also, 93.3% of female and 89.3% of male survivors indicated a similar general wish to have children compared to the general population. Survivors reported parenthood less frequently compared to the general population (p 0.001). The course of pregnancy in survivors was characterized by fewer abortions (p 0.001). Having leukemia in childhood and adolescence impairs the likelihood of becoming a parent but reduces neither the wish to have children nor the level of graduation.

Keywords::

• Childhood leukemia
• course of pregnancy
• gender
• graduation
• quality of life
• wish to have children

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the German José Carreras Foundation for Research on Leukemia and by University Research Funding of the Charité University Medical Center Berlin.

Furthermore, the nationwide survey was supported by the German Childhood Cancer Foundation (Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung). We are grateful to Irene Jung and Dr. Peter Kaatsch of the German Childhood Cancer Registry, the study teams of the Therapy Optimization Trials and to all of the participants for their collaboration.

Potential conflict of interest

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