How long will the needs last?
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Duration Guidance
| Age at date of claim | Award Period |
|---|---|
| 0 – 15 | Award for 2 years, with a further 2 year award on renewal if treatment related needs are identified for children with promyelocyctic AML or recurrent leukaemia. |
2 year awards are recommended for all children diagnosed with AML. Treatment and recovery for those who successfully undergo combination chemotherapy is likely to take 1 year. For those undergoing PBSCT or bone marrow transplant after chemotherapy it is likely to take 1 to 2 years. Children with promyelocyctic AML are likely to undergo treatment for 3 to 4 years but the majority is less intensive and on an out-patient basis.
Some children will endure further courses of treatment in addition to that described above because their leukaemia recurs. Children who will have a recurrence and children who will die from their leukaemia cannot be identified at the beginning of treatment. Of those who will die from their disease almost all will do so within 18 months of onset. Consequently 2 year awards are recommended for all children diagnosed with AML to minimise the risk of a renewal occurring during a child’s terminal illness.
On expiry of the 2 year award, the majority of children who have successfully undergone treatment for AML will have recovered and any treatment related needs will no longer be present. The small group of children undergoing treatment for promyelocytic AML will be undergoing maintenance treatment and may have treatment related needs. Awards related to such treatment should be renewed to coincide with the end of treatment. In rare circumstances a child will be undergoing treatment for recurrent leukaemia – 2 year awards are recommended in these cases.
