Childhood Cancer

Childhood Leukemia

Appendix A: Blood Tests and What They Mean

KEEPING TRACK OF THEIR CHILD’S BLOOD cell counts becomes a way of life for parents of children with leukemia. Unfortunately, misunderstandings about what certain changes in blood values mean cause unnecessary worry and fear. To help prevent these concerns, and to better enable parents to spot trends in the blood cell values of their child, this appendix explains the blood cell counts of healthy children, the blood cell counts of children being treated for leukemia, and what each blood cell count value means. It also briefly describes other blood tests commonly needed in children with leukemia.