Good news for leukemia survivors

St. Paul, Minn. — More than 90 percent of children who survive acute myeloid leukemia for five years or longer are still alive 20 years later.

That is according to a new University of Minnesota study that tracked children treated between 1970 and 1986.

Pediatric cancer doctor Daniel Mulrooney says the findings are good news for survivors. But he says that does not mean that survivors will not have additional health issues as they age.

"In our population close to 16 percent identified some type of a chronic medical condition whether it be a cardiovascular disease or an endicrine disorder or a second malignancy or something like that required ongoing medical attention," Mulrooney said.

When compared to the general population, Mulrooney says AML survivors had comparable marriage, graduation and employment rates.

The U of M study is published in the current edition of the journal "Cancer."