What if Child Maltreatment Were Childhood Leukemia?: Lessons from the Halls of the Hospital

Abstract

This article examines lessons that can be applied to prevention, research, training, and clinical treatment in child welfare from analogous experiences in combatting childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Since the 1960s, childhood cancer researchers have been able to reach a 98% remission rate and 90% 5-yr survival rate with limited research, training, and treatment dollars. In contrast, child abuse fatalities and maltreatment reports have continued to increase. Although childhood leukemia is not readily associated with child welfare and child maltreatment, there are strategies, protocols, and lessons from the cancer arena that could disrupt the status quo of how we address child welfare. Use of childhood cancer research and treatment as a model could result in development of a child welfare system that is preventive in nature and better equipped to treat the multitude of family and community issues that contribute to maltreatment. Keywords childhood cancer. child maltreatment. child welfare. leukemia. Total Therapy Development of the Medical Approach to Childhood Leukemia Prior to 1962, parents who heard the words "your child has leukemia" had only one option: to prepare for the impending death of their child. At that time, childhood leukemia was considered a fatal malady; treatment might prolong life but did not sustain its quality.

[Retracted] A Retrospective Cohort Study of the Efficacy, Safety, and Clinical Value of 6‐TG versus 6‐MP Maintenance Therapy in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

“…Other studies suggest that the cytotoxic effect of 6-MP is not entirely based on the formation of TGN, and the concentration of TGN may simply reflect the ability of erythrocytes to directly metabolize 6-TG to TGN [ 32 ]. When the dose of 6-MP increased, the metabolic mode changed from TGN to methylated (TIN), and its dose intensity should also be an important factor affecting drug metabolism [ 33 ]. In order to explore the effect of 6-MP dose intensity on 6-MP drug metabolism, Bell et al included 226 children who were treated with 6-MP in 2004 [ 34 ].…”

Lessons for Child Protection Moving Forward: How to Keep From Rearranging the Deck Chairs on the Titanic

“…Further, health systems have increasingly embedded behavioral health professionals into primary care and other settings to make it easier for their patients to receive more comprehensive and effective care (Miller-Matero et al, 2015). Clinical cancer centers have behavioral health, nutrition, and other supports for patients and families and could be a model for dealing with child maltreatment (Babcock, 2020). A public health approach alone will not be sufficient.…”