When Childhood Cancer Becomes a Family Affair, It Really Hits Home

In this article, a father and son describe the experience of childhood leukemia treatment and its aftermath with the unique perspective of a parent who is also a pediatric oncologist. An illness that began with an apparently favorable prognosis was transformed by an early relapse, followed by unexpected complications and difficult treatment decisions. Despite unfavorable statistics, the son is a long-term survivor with an overall excellent quality of life, despite several late events and effects. His father, in the meantime, gained insights that now inform his own practice.