What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia?

August 28, 2025

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By Seraine Page 

What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia? 

This rare, aggressive cancer impacts bone marrow and blood and has a variety of subtypes that cause different symptoms and ultimately dictate treatment routes. 

Cancer is a word that strikes fear in many hearts, especially those of parents. There’s no denying that the diagnosis of any cancer is scary. 

Below, we share what to expect when your child receives an Acute Myeloid Leukemia diagnosis, as well as treatment options and support available for caregivers and parents alike. 

What Exactly is Acute Myeloid Leukemia?

Leukemia is one of the most common childhood cancers diagnosed. It impacts the white blood cells (leukocytes) that fight off the body’s infections. 

Acute means “fast-growing,” and in the case of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), the body makes too many immature blood cells that don’t turn into normal white blood cells. 

It’s thought that certain genetic disorders present at birth seem to increase the risk of AML. These include Down syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Bloom syndrome, Trisomy 8, Fanconi anemia, Klinefelter syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Kostmann syndrome, and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

Around 20% of kids with a leukemia diagnosis have AML. While it’s a serious condition, it is treatable with a care team that provides intensive and ongoing care.

Related: Read Emma’s Story

AML Signs

Because AML is a fast-growing cancer, the signs and symptoms are typically caught early. Annually, around 1,160 kids receive an AML diagnosis, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

Signs vary but often include fever, exhaustion, easy bleeding, and bruising. 

Additional signs & symptoms of AML include: 

  • Anemia
  • Fevers 
  • Weight loss  
  • Headaches 
  • Poor appetite 
  • Stomach pain
  • Eczema-like skin rash
  • Swollen lymph nodes 
  • Bone or joint discomfort 
  • Shortness of breath during normal physical activities 

Keeping a dated journal of signs and symptoms can help your child’s pediatrician with treatment options and next steps. 

How is Childhood AML Diagnosed?

If you see the above signs or symptoms, your child’s pediatrician can order further tests or referrals to specialists to check for leukemia. A physical exam and health history review are the starting point to check for signs of disease, including lumps or other unusual symptoms. 

Typically, doctors recommend: 

  • Blood tests – Doctors may start with tests that include kidney and liver function panels as well as a complete blood count and blood chemistry to ensure patient numbers are where they should be and organs are working correctly.
  • Imaging – A combined PET/CT scan can sometimes help firm up an AML diagnosis. Additionally, ultrasounds may be used to look at enlarged lymph nodes or to guide a biopsy needle to take a sample of an enlarged lymph node.
  • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy – Under local anesthesia, marrow may be extracted with a needle biopsy. It may also be removed by aspiration, where fluid specimens are taken from the bone marrow. This type of testing can determine the exact type of leukemia a child has for tailored treatment.
  • Spinal tap/lumbar puncture – Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is extracted with a special needle from between the back bones of the spinal canal. This fluid is removed and tested to see if leukemia cells can be seen microscopically.
  • Chromosome and genetic tests – Treatment options may be formulated based on genetic testing after viewing bone or bone marrow to check for genetic changes. Three types of tests are available, including: Cytogenetics (karyotyping), fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 
  • Additional tests – Biomarker testing is another available option that uses next-generation sequencing (NGS), a test that looks at long strands of DNA (including its genes) at one time. Changes found in these tests can often indicate if certain targeted therapy might be helpful, according to the American Cancer Society. 

After all testing, experts review the results to create a personalized treatment plan. 

When going through the testing process, it may feel overwhelming and scary awaiting results. Surrounding yourself and your child with supportive, loving people can help the process feel a little bit easier despite the difficult circumstances. 

Related: Read Jamir’s Story

What Happens Now? The First Days After Diagnosis

When you receive life-changing news for your child, your mind is likely swirling with questions. Here are some questions to consider writing down and asking your child’s medical team: 

Understanding the Diagnosis

  • What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia? How does it differ from other types of leukemia?
  • What subtype of AML does my child have?
  • Has leukemia spread to other parts of the body (e.g., brain, spinal cord)?

Testing and Prognosis

  • What additional tests are needed (e.g., genetic testing, lumbar puncture)?
  • What are the results of the bone marrow biopsy and blood tests?
  • What do the findings tell us?
  • How will these results affect treatment options or prognosis?
  • What is the expected prognosis or survival rate for my child’s specific case?

Treatment Plan

  • What are the treatment options available for this type of AML?
  • What is the goal of treatment: cure, remission, or control?
  • How long will treatment last?
  • What medications or chemotherapy agents will be used?
  • Will my child need a bone marrow/stem cell transplant? If so, when?
  • Are there any clinical trials my child may be eligible for?

Side Effects and Complications

  • What are the most common short- and long-term side effects of the treatment?
  • How will treatment affect my child’s immune system?
  • Will my child need to stay in the hospital during treatment?
  • What are the risks of infections or other complications?
  • How will treatment impact my child’s development, fertility, or growth?

Care Coordination and Specialists

  • Who will be part of my child’s care team (oncologist, nurse coordinator, social worker)?
  • How often will we meet with the care team?
  • Will we need to see other specialists (e.g., cardiologists, endocrinologists)?
  • Who do I contact with questions or in emergencies?

Support and Logistics

  • Where will treatment be administered — inpatient or outpatient?
  • How often will we need to come in for appointments?
  • What support services are available for my child and our family (social work, psychology, nutrition, etc. )?
  • Will my child be able to attend school during treatment? What are the options for keeping up?
  • Are there financial counselors or patient advocates available?

Complications of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stages

When your child first gets an AML diagnosis, their healthy red and white blood cells and platelet numbers are impacted. When those numbers are too low, children may develop anemia, thrombocytopenia (when bone marrow doesn’t make enough platelets), or a condition called pancytopenia. 

These problems are part of how AML shows up and why kids feel so unwell, and ultimately lead to a diagnosis.

What to Watch For Post-Diagnosis

  • Anemia (low red blood cells): Look for tiredness, pale/washed-out skin, shortness of breath, or a fast heartbeat—especially with light activity.

  • Thrombocytopenia (low platelets): Watch for easy bruising, tiny red or purple skin spots, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or bleeding that’s hard to stop.

  • Low white blood cells/infection risk: Fever is often the only early sign of infection when counts are low. Other red flags: chills, cough/sore throat, or burning with urination.

When to Call the Doctor 

Call your child’s care team immediately if your child has a temperature ≥ 100.4°F (some centers also use “100.4°F that lasts an hour” or “one-time 101°F”). 

Tip for parents: Keep a thermometer handy and ask your child’s healthcare team for their exact fever plan. Many pediatric oncology programs use versions of the thresholds above and want a call right away if your child hits them. Above all, follow your intuition and call with any concerns you may have. You may opt to use a 24/7 nurse line if your child’s oncology center has one.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment

There are various options for treating acute myeloid leukemia. Your child’s doctor will determine the best path for treatment. Chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, radiation therapy, and clinical trials are available treatment options. 

Several types of standard treatment options are often considered for AML.

Here’s a look at the acute myeloid leukemia treatment options:

  • Chemotherapy – When most people think of cancer treatment, this is the first option that often comes to mind. Most children will have chemotherapy treatment that is dictated by the AML type they have, and if there are genetic changes. Chemo may be given by pill form, muscle injection, IV, or with a spinal tap. 

  • Clinical trials – These are medical trials not yet available to the public that show promise for treatment. Doctors make the call on whether a child is a good candidate for such trials and then make arrangements for their participation.

  • Immunotherapy – This treatment uses your child’s immune system to get rid of cancer cells. Immunotherapy is usually given through an IV and usually involves multiple treatments over time. One recent study in Science Advances found that using two drugs —   pembrolizumab and decitabine — helped the immune system attack cancer cells and affected how certain genes are turned on and off. Read more here about the hopeful results researchers are exploring, including one lab  “looking at ways to train a patient’s own T cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells that contain neoantigens, while sparing healthy cells.”

  • Radiation therapy – These high-energy X-rays kill off cancer cells. For example, Cincinnati Children’s offers proton therapy for precision radiation treatment for AML.

  • Stem cell transplants – This treatment involves a bone marrow transplant that kills cancer cells, immune system cells, and normal bone marrow with radiation and/or high-dose chemotherapy. Then, new healthy donor stem cells are put into the body to help rebuild a healthy immune system and blood supply.

Aside from the above options, doctors may also consider “watchful waiting” and “supportive care” for treatment options, according to Cancer.gov. 

Understanding Treatment Phases for Childhood AML

When your child is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one of the first things doctors will explain is the treatment process. Because AML is aggressive, treatment happens in stages, each with a specific purpose. Knowing what to expect can make this overwhelming journey feel a little more manageable.

Phase 1: Induction Therapy

The first step of treatment is called induction therapy.

  • Goal: To destroy as many leukemia cells as possible in the blood and bone marrow.
  • What it means for your child: If this phase works, the leukemia goes into remission, meaning no cancer cells can be seen with standard tests.
  • Effectiveness: According to the Cleveland Clinic, induction therapy puts more than 60% of children and teens into remission

Phase 2: Consolidation (Intensification) Therapy

Once remission is achieved, the next step is consolidation therapy, also called intensification therapy.

  • Goal: To eliminate any hidden leukemia cells that survived induction and could cause the cancer to return.
  • What to expect: This phase usually involves high-dose chemotherapy. Many children receive medication for five days each month, often repeated for up to four months.

Approximately 35–45% of children relapse after intensive therapy, opening the door for further treatment decisions, according to a study published in HemaSphere, the official open-access journal of the European Hematology Association.

Additional Support: CNS Prophylaxis

Sometimes, leukemia cells can hide in the brain and spinal cord, where regular chemotherapy cannot reach.

  • What doctors do: Your child may receive central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis during induction therapy. This specialized treatment targets leukemia cells in these areas to reduce the risk of relapse, according to Cancer.gov. 

With modern induction and consolidation regimens (plus transplant where applicable), the CNS relapse rate is extremely low—often under 1%, according to a 2022 Current Treatment Options in Oncology journal study.

Phase 3: Maintenance Therapy 

Not all children will receive maintenance therapy, but for some, it’s the next step.

  • Goal: To help keep leukemia from coming back.
  • What to expect: Lower doses of cancer medication may be given for several months—or even years—depending on your child’s unique situation.

Roughly 40% of measurable residual disease (MRD)-negative AML patients relapse within five years, even without further therapy.

Alternative Treatment Cure: Stem Cell Transplant

For some children, doctors may recommend an allogeneic stem cell transplant, the only treatment currently known to cure AML.

  • How it works: Stem cells from a donor replace the blood-forming cells destroyed by chemotherapy.
  • Important to know: Not every child is a candidate, but your care team will guide you through whether this option is right.

Based on treatments like the ones above, the goal is always to put AML into total remission. This means that your child’s blood counts will go back to normal, and that cancer cells are no longer visible under a microscope. 

When looking into treatment options, it’s always your right as a parent to consider second opinions. Considering another physician’s opinion may open up new treatment options, including clinical trials, that may be a better fit for your child. 

Life After Treatment: What Remission Looks Like

Reaching remission is an incredible milestone—but it doesn’t mean the journey is completely over. Daily life for children in remission often feels much closer to “normal,” though it can take time for their bodies to regain strength after intense treatment. Kids may return to school, play with friends, and get back to their favorite activities, but they may tire more easily at first.

Possible Long-Term Effects:
Some children experience lingering side effects from chemotherapy or other treatments. 

These can include:

  • New or second cancers
  • Fatigue or lower energy levels
  • Increased risk of infections for a period of time
  • Slower growth or hormonal changes
  • Learning or memory challenges (“chemo brain”)
  • Rarely, heart or organ-related side effects from specific chemotherapy drugs
  • Sensory functions resulting in hearing loss, vision changes, dry eyes, or dry mouth

Not every child will have long-term effects, but your child’s care team will monitor them closely and address issues as they come up.

Follow-Up Care:

Once treatment ends, follow-up visits will be required that include testing to see if the cancer has returned. 
 After treatment ends, your child will enter a structured follow-up plan:

  • First 1–2 years: Frequent visits (every few months) to check for signs of relapse and manage side effects.
  • Later years: Appointments become less frequent and may only be an annual occurrence if your child remains cancer-free.

Doctors will review medical history along with doing a physical examination. Follow-up tests may also be done, including MRI or CT scans.

Who You’ll See:

  • Pediatric oncologist/hematologist for relapse checks and overall cancer monitoring
  • Endocrinologists, cardiologists, or other specialists if specific late effects need attention
  • Primary care doctor to support everyday health and catch new concerns early

Many children also receive support from survivorship clinics, which focus on long-term health, emotional well-being, and helping kids transition fully back into daily life.

It’s important to note that while overall survival for pediatric AML has improved to about 70%, relapses are an ongoing challenge for AML patients. 

Survival rates are on a case-by-case basis as several AML subtypes make it difficult to have specific survival rates predicted.

Treatment Centers for Acute Myeloid Leukemia 

We always recommend getting a second opinion from one of the top care facilities in the nation. 

Here at OAW, we believe it’s your right as a parent to have all of the relevant information about your child’s condition before making a decision.

Here are a few different hospitals to consider in our area: 

Hospitals in OAW Service Areas

  • Arkansas Children’s – This location treats all types of leukemia in children.
  • Lurie Children’s  (Chicago, Illinois) – This location has several programs to treat childhood leukemia, including a stem cell transplantation program.
  • St. Louis Children’s Hospital (Missouri) – This location has a variety of programs and services, including a childhood cancer survivorship program.
  • Children’s Minnesota – The leukemia and lymphoma program at Children’s Minnesota is the largest in the state, with the ability to treat all types of leukemia, including AML.
  • Riley’s Children’s Health (Indiana) – The pediatric cancer and blood disorders team offers the only pediatric stem cell (bone marrow) transplant program in the state.

Additional Hospitals or Medical Centers


Note: Always be sure to call and see if the hospital or treatment center still provides the necessary surgeries or care, as policies and options change often.

Additional Resources & Support for Pediatric AML Patients

When you receive the news that your child has Acute Myeloid Leukemia, it’s important to have a solid support team — whether that’s in-person or online. 

Additionally, learning about the condition and that others have gone through a similar experience can help you feel less alone. You can also share this post to help others better understand what acute myeloid leukemia is.

Here are support options for you and your family:

If your family has been affected by an Acute Myeloid Leukemia diagnosis, we encourage you to contact us for information about our complimentary therapeutic photography and grief support services. It would be our privilege to assist you on your journey whenever you need it.

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