For many types of cancers, diagnosis at the earliest possible stage makes treatment much more effective. The American Cancer Society recommends screening tests for early diagnosis of certain cancers in people without any symptoms.

But at this time there are no special tests recommended to detect acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) early. The best way to find leukemia early is to report any possible signs or symptoms of leukemia (see the section, "How is acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed?") to the doctor right away.

Some people are known to be at increased risk of developing ALL because of an inherited disorder such as Down syndrome. Most doctors recommend that these people have careful, regular medical checkups. The development of leukemia in people with these syndromes, although greater than in the general population, is still very rare.

Last Medical Review: 07/23/2009
Last Revised: 07/23/2009