Prognosis of childhood leukemia

We have been troubled by what we judge to be inaccurate assessments of the current prognosis of acute leukemia in childhood. These assessments have appeared in the lay press: Saturday Evening Post, June 1, 1968, "It is quite possible . . . that median survival of patients now starting treatment will be between 4 and 5 years;" Time, March 4, 1969, "now . . . the average survival time is about 5 years in major medical centers" and in such medical journals as J.A.M.A., Medical Tribune, Cancer Research, and so forth, where in a number of artides in the last 2 years median survivals of 3 years or longer are stated as current or shortly to be obtained.