IMPACT OF CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA ON FAMILY-PLANNING

Clinical experiences have indicated that family planning is affected b y childhood leukemia. To investigate this issue, 130 mothers and fathe rs of 68 families with a long-term disease-free survivor were studied using interviews and questionnaires concerning the effects of childhoo d cancer on family planning. In one third of the families, either one or both partners reported that their child's disease affected their re productive planning in various ways. The most extreme variations inclu ded having completed the family before diagnosis but still having anot her child versus not having completed the family before diagnosis but refraining from further progeny. More than half of the affected famili es refrained from having further offspring, delineating psychological motives for their decision. For parents whose family planning is affec ted by their experiences with childhood leukemia, the decision-making process is an extra burden. Therefore we advocate that support for the parents of a child with cancer should include counseling on progeny, in which both genetic and psychological information should be provided .