how long is the treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

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Treatment of Children With Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) The main treatment for children with acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL) is chemotherapy, which is usually given in 3 main phases: The entire length of treatment is typically about 2 to 3 years, with the most intense treatment in the first few months.

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Typical Treatment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) The total treatment usually takes about 2 years, with the maintenance phase taking up most of this time. Treatment may be more or less intense, depending on the subtype of ALL and other prognostic factors. ALL can spread to the area around the brain and spinal cord.

How is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) treated?

Treatment for ALL usually takes between 2 and 3 years. The maintenance phase of treatment takes up most of this time. The aim of the induction phase is to destroy the leukaemia cells.

How long does it take for lymphocytic leukemia to go away?

Treatment can be divided into four phases: The first two phases use intensive chemotherapy medications designed to kill the leukemia cells that grow quickly. Complete therapy for ALL typically continues for two to three years.

How long does it take to Cure Leukaemia?

What are the phases of treatment for leukemia?

How long is chemotherapy for acute leukemia?

Chemo treatment for ALL is typically divided into 3 phases: Induction, which is short and intensive, usually lasts about a month. Consolidation (intensification), which is also intensive, typically lasts for a few months. Maintenance (post-consolidation), which is less intensive, typically lasts for about 2 years.

Can acute lymphoblastic leukemia be cured?

The medical community considers a person cured of acute lymphocytic leukemia if they're in total remission for 10 years. Up to 98% of children with ALL go into remission in about a month after treatment and 9 in 10 can be cured.

How long is maintenance therapy for leukemia?

Standard ALL treatment usually takes between 2 to 3 years altogether. The maintenance phase takes up most of this time as it lasts 2 years. During the maintenance phase people are often back to work or college. If you have a stem cell or bone marrow transplant the treatment time is shorter but more intensive.

Why is leukemia treatment so long?

Although there may not be detectable leukemia cells in your child's blood or bone marrow at the end of induction, there still might be some leukemia cells that doctors cannot detect. This is why the treatment continues. The consolidation phase lasts for 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the ALL risk type and protocol.

How long does someone with acute lymphoblastic leukemia live?

The 5-year survival rate for people age 20 and older is 40%. The 5-year survival rate for people under age 20 is 89%. Recent advances in treatment have significantly lengthened the lives of people with ALL. However, survival rates depend on several factors, including biologic features of the disease and a person's age.

Does acute lymphoblastic leukemia come back?

Relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or relapsed ALL, refers to the return of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in patients who have already undergone treatment for the disease. Between 15 and 20 percent of children who are treated for ALL and achieve an initial complete remission will have the disease return.

How many rounds of chemo is normal?

During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.

How long does leukemia take to go into remission?

For ALL, Gruber says, cure is typically defined as five years of remission after diagnosis. For AML, she says, cure is typically defined as retaining remission for three years after diagnosis. Helping kids stay as healthy as possible throughout their treatment is the first step.

Can you be on chemo for years?

Still, it's important to know that even those who are not cured of cancer may go on living for months or years, even though there may be changes in their lives. Many families adjust to this kind of treatment schedule.

How many cycles of chemo do you need for leukemia?

The treatment usually consists of four cycles of intensive chemotherapy that includes high doses of cytarabine and one or more other drugs.

How serious is acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “Acute” means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal within a few months. "Lymphocytic" means it develops from early (immature) forms of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

Does acute lymphoblastic leukemia have stages?

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) has no standard staging system. The phases of ALL are described as untreated, in remission, relapsed (also called recurrent) or refractory.

Is acute leukemia curable?

Although AML is a serious disease, it is treatable and often curable with chemotherapy with or without a bone marrow/stem cell transplant (see the Types of Treatment section).

How serious is acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “Acute” means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal within a few months. "Lymphocytic" means it develops from early (immature) forms of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

Can you recover from acute leukemia?

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), around 90 percent of people with an AML type known as acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) will go into remission after “induction” (first round) of chemo. For most other types of AML, the remission rate is around 67 percent.

What type of leukemia is curable?

While it is similar in many ways to the other subtypes, APL is distinctive and has a specific treatment regime. Treatment outcomes for APL are very good, and it is considered the most curable type of leukemia, with cure rates as high as 90%.

How long does it take to cure lymphoblastic leukaemia?

Treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is divided into 3 phases. These are: Treatment for ALL usually takes between 2 and 3 years. The maintenance phase of treatment takes up most of this time.

How long do you have to stay in hospital after chemo?

Chemotherapy kills off many of your healthy bone marrow cells as well as the leukaemia cells. So you need to stay in hospital for about a month until you have recovered. There are different combinations of drugs your doctors might use.

What is the aim of consolidation therapy?

Your doctor might also call it the intensification phase. The aim is to get rid of any leukaemia cells that might still be there and to stop it from coming back. This phase of treatment might take a few months.

How long before chemotherapy do you start taking steroids?

There are different combinations of drugs your doctors might use. You usually start taking steroids for up to a week before you start chemotherapy. This starts to get rid of some of the leukaemia cells while your doctor gets all your test results and plans your treatment. Find out about steroids.

Where do leukaemia cells travel?

Leukaemia cells can sometimes travel to the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system, CNS). So as part of your induction treatment you have chemotherapy and possibly a steroid into the fluid that circulates around the spinal cord and brain. This is called intrathecal chemotherapy.

How often do you see your doctor for chemo?

You also have intrathecal chemotherapy. You have your treatment in cycles, also known as blocks. You see your doctor every few months to check how you are getting on and to keep an eye on your blood counts. Sometimes you may need blood transfusions or antibiotics if you have an infection.

What happens if you are not in remission?

You move on to the next phase of treatment if you are in remission (consolidation). If you’re not in remission you usually have more chemotherapy.

How long does it take to cure leukemia?

Complete therapy for ALL typically continues for two to three years.

How long does it take to get chemo for all?

Chemotherapy. Treatment of ALL is usually urgent and needs to be given within days, and sometimes the same day, as the diagnosis is made. The first phase of treatment, called induction chemotherapy, requires that patients remain in the hospital for approximately four weeks.

What chromosomes should be translocated to BMT?

Patients with the Philadelphia chromosome or with the translocation involving chromosomes 4 and 11 , should go on to BMT. At UCSF Medical Center, allogeneic transplantation — which uses stem cells or bone marrow from a matched brother or sister — is preferred and considered the standard therapy for ALL.

What is the purpose of a repeat bone marrow biopsy?

Once blood counts have returned to normal, a repeat bone marrow biopsy is performed to determine whether the patient has entered complete remission. A complete remission is achieved when the blood and bone marrow show no evidence of persistent leukemia and blood counts have returned to normal.

What is the procedure called when you have abnormal cytogenetics?

Stem cell transplantation. Stem cell transplantation , also called blood or marrow transplantation (BMT), is performed only in patients who have abnormal cytogenetics, chromosome testing or other high-risk ALL features.

What is the most common drug used for induction treatment of all?

The most common drugs used for induction treatment of ALL are daunorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, asparaginase and sometimes cyclophosphamide. Intensive supportive care accompanies the chemotherapy, including transfusion of red blood cells and platelets. Antibiotics are needed both preventatively and as treatment for both bacterial ...

How does a doctor relate to chemo?

The relationship with a doctor is a very personal one, built on communication and trust. In choosing a doctor, the "chemistry" between the two of you must work . Coping with Chemotherapy. Each person experiences side effects from chemotherapy differently, and different chemotherapy drugs cause different side effects.

What are the stages of lymphoblastic leukaemia?

Stages of treatment. Treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is usually done in 3 stages. Stage 1 is remission induction. The aim of remission induction is to kill the leukaemia cells in your bone marrow, restore the balance of cells in your blood, and relieve your symptoms. Stage 2 is consolidation.

What is the treatment for leukaemia?

Chemotherapy. You'll have chemotherapy to kill the leukaemia cells in your bone marrow. The chemotherapy medicine used is called methotrexate. Although this medicine comes as a tablet, you'll also need it to be given as injections.

What is radiotherapy used for?

Radiotherapy is where high doses of controlled radiation are used to kill cancerous cells. It's usually used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when: acute lymphoblastic leukaemia has spread to the nervous system or brain. the body needs to be prepared for a bone marrow transplant.

Why is immunotherapy used?

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment where medicines are used to encourage the body's immune system to target and kill cancerous cells. Immunotherapy may be recommended if you do not respond to other treatments or the cancer comes back after other treatments.

What is the purpose of consolidation treatment?

Consolidation. The aim of consolidation treatment is to ensure that any remaining leukaemia cells are killed. The consolidation phase involves regular injections of chemotherapy medicine. This is usually done on an outpatient basis, so you will not have to stay in hospital overnight.

What is the medicine for Philadelphia chromosome positive leukaemia?

If you have a type of leukaemia called Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (which affects around 20 to 30% of people with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia), you'll also be given a medicine called imatinib.

How long does maintenance phase last?

It involves taking regular doses of chemotherapy medicine while having regular check-ups to monitor your treatment. The maintenance phase can often last for 2 years.

How long does it take to get rid of lymphocytic leukemia?

The main treatment for children with acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL) is chemotherapy, which is usually given in 3 main phases: The entire length of treatment is typically about 2 to 3 years, with the most intense treatment in the first few months. Children with ALL are typically classified by risk group to make sure ...

What is the best treatment for leukemia?

If the leukemia remains in remission after induction and consolidation, maintenance therapy can begin. Most treatment plans use daily 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and weekly methotrexate, given as pills, often along with vincristine, which is given into a vein (IV), and a steroid (prednisone or dexamethasone). These latter 2 drugs are given ...

What is intrathecal chemo?

Intrathecal chemotherapy: All children also get chemo into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to kill any leukemia cells that might have spread to the brain and spinal cord. This treatment, known as intrathecal chemotherapy, is given through a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).

How long does the consolidation phase of chemo last?

Consolidation (intensification) The next, and usually more intense, consolidation phase of chemo starts once the leukemia is in remission and typically lasts for several months. This phase further reduces the number of leukemia cells still in the body.

How often is methotrexate given?

It is usually given twice (or more if the leukemia is high risk or leukemia cells have been found in the CSF) during the first month and several times during the next 1 or 2 months. It is then repeated less often during the rest of treatment. Usually, methotrexate is the drug used for intrathecal chemo.

What is the goal of induction chemotherapy?

Induction. The goal of induction chemotherapy is to achieve a remission. This means that leukemia cells are no longer found in bone marrow samples, the normal marrow cells return, and the blood counts become normal. (A remission is not necessarily a cure.) More than 95% of children with ALL enter remission after 1 month of induction treatment.

Can leukemia go away?

The treatment plans may change if the leukemia doesn’t go into remission during induction or consolidation. The doctor will probably check the child’s bone marrow soon after treatment starts to see if the leukemia is going away. If not, treatment might need to be more intense or prolonged.

Induction

The goal of induction chemotherapy is induce remission. Remission is when doctors are no longer able to find signs of your cancer. The induction phase can take up to 4 weeks, during which time you’ll stay in the hospital.

Intensification and consolidation

The intensification and consolidation phase consists of additional chemotherapy to destroy lingering cancer cells that may be in your body, but aren’t detectable. You may also receive a bone marrow transplant at this time. This stage may last several months.

Maintenance

The maintenance phase involves taking a lower dose of chemotherapy drugs for typically about 2 years to prevent relapse. Medications may include:

Bone marrow transplant

Chemotherapy damages healthy cells in your body that divide quickly like the cells in your bone marrow that produce blood cells. A bone marrow transplant helps replace these damaged bone marrow cells.

CAR T cell therapy

A type of immunotherapy called CAR T-cell therapy is a new treatment available for adults up to age 25. It’s sometimes used when ALL doesn’t respond to other treatments.

Supportive care

This helps address the side effects of treatment, especially when cancer is aggressive or not responding to treatments. This can include antibiotics, as well as red blood cell and platelet transfusions.

Low risk

For low-risk children, an allogeneic bone marrow transplant may be performed after remission if there’s a poor response to chemotherapy.

What are the treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials. A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer . When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not started treatment.

What is the name of the cancer that is caused by the bone marrow making too many lymphocytes?

Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; also called acute lymphocytic leukemia) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated.

What is the disease that affects the white blood cells?

Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Previous chemotherapy and exposure to radiation may increase the risk of developing ALL.

What is combination chemo?

Combination chemotherapy is treatment using more than one anticancer drug. Intrathecal chemotherapy may be used to treat adult ALL that has spread, or may spread, to the brain and spinal cord. When used to lessen the chance leukemia cells will spread to the brain and spinal cord, it is called CNS prophylaxis. Enlarge.

How does chemo work?

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (intrathecal chemotherapy), an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas ( regional chemotherapy ). Combination chemotherapy is treatment using more than one anticancer drug.

What is cytochemistry test?

This test is used to help diagnose specific types of leukemia. For example, a cytochemistry study may test the cells in a sample of tissue using chemicals (dyes) to look for certain changes in the sample. A chemical may cause a color change in one type of leukemia cell but not in another type of leukemia cell.

Why do we do clinical trials?

Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment.

How long do children live with leukemia?

More than four out of five children live at least 5 years. The prognosis for adults is not as good.

How old is the average person with leukemia?

In adults, leukemia is most common in people older than 55 years, with the average age of diagnosis being 66 years. It is also one of the most common cancers in children and adults younger than 20 years. The survival rate is higher for younger people. According to the National Cancer Institute, the percentage of deaths by age group is as follows: ...

What are the different types of leukemia?

There are four common types of leukemia which include: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): In this type of leukemia, immature lymphoid cells grow rapidly in the blood. It is the most common type of leukemia in children and rarely affects adults. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML):

What is the name of the cancer that affects the white blood cells?

Leukemia is a group of cancers of the blood affecting the white blood cells. White blood cells are the infection-fighting cells of the body. In leukemia , white blood cell production becomes abnormal in the bone marrow. The abnormal white blood cells divide uncontrollably and eventually outnumber the healthy white blood cells.

How long does it take for cancer to go into remission?

About 80 percent who go into remission will do so within 1 month of therapy . In some people, however, the disease will return, lowering the cure rate. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): On average, people with this cancer survive 9 years, although some have lived for decades, cancer always comes back at some point.

What are the symptoms of childhood leukemia?

Symptoms and signs include fever, easy bruising, bone or joint pain, weakness, loss of appetite, and painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin.

How do you know if you have leukemia?

If the fever symptoms continue for longer than usual, it is important to consult your doctor. Other early symptoms of leukemia include: Fever of unknown origin.

Steroid Pre Phase

Induction

Consolidation and Intensification

Maintenance

Clinical Trials

Induction

• If the leukemia goes into remission, the next phase often consists of another fairly short course of chemo, using many of the same drugs that were used for induction therapy. This typically lasts for a few months. Usually the drugs are given in high doses so that the treatment is still fairly intense. CNS prophylaxis/treatment is typically continue...

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Consolidation

Maintenance

Treatment of Residual Disease

• In induction you have several chemotherapy drugs which you have over a few days. You can ask for a copy of your treatment timetable to help you follow your treatment plan and know what to expect next. Chemotherapy damages healthy cells as well as the leukaemia cells. So you will generally need to stay in hospital until you have recovered from induc...

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Treatment of Recurrent All

Philadelphia Chromosome-Type All