4 out of 5 Malaysian kids with ALL, a childhood cancer, could be cured

In conjunction with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, we take a look at the progress made locally in treating ALL, the most common childhood cancer.

Survival rates for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) – the most common childhood cancer – have improved dramatically over the past four decades. In Malaysia, more than 80% of children with ALL are expected to be cured.

This stellar achievement, from a rate of approximately 40% 30 years ago, is largely due to collaborative research, development of multiagent treatment protocols, better laboratory tests and overall improvement in supportive care.