Children diagnosed with leukemia typically will not receive what form of treatment?

Children diagnosed with leukemia typically do not receive radiation therapy as a primary treatment option. The main treatments for leukemia, especially in pediatric cases, are chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, and increasingly, immunotherapy. These treatments directly target the cancer cells in a more systemic manner.

Radiation therapy is generally not favored for children with leukemia because the risks associated with radiation exposure can be more severe in this population, including potential long-term effects on growth and development. Additionally, leukemia is often treated effectively with the other modalities without the need for radiation, which is more commonly reserved for other types of cancers or specific cases where localized treatment is necessary.

In contrast, immunotherapy harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer, chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells, and stem cell transplants provide a means to restore healthy bone marrow, all of which are integral to the management of leukemia in children.