Treatment FAQ

how much time required to get back fertility after lukemia treatment

by Prof. Ernest Bednar Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

For the most common types of leukemia in children (ALL and AML), if the leukemia does come back, it is most often while the child is still being treated or within a year or so after finishing treatment. It is unusual for ALL or AML to return if there are no signs of the disease within the next 2 years.

This generally takes 1 to 3 years, but can sometimes take longer. Some men have only partial recovery, with low sperm counts, and some men never recover sperm production. Because of the many factors that affect fertility, it's hard to predict how any one person will be affected by treatment.May 29, 2018

Full Answer

Can leukemia come back after treatment?

The term ‘fertility’ is used to describe the ability to conceive a child naturally. Some cancer treatments affect fertility in males and females. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause side effects as well as long-term and late effects, which can appear months or years after treatment. One possible late effect is infertility, the inability to ...

How long does it take to cure leukemia?

Sep 13, 2019 · Share In a nutshell This article reviewed different options to preserve or restore fertility in female patients with lymphoma or leukemia. Some background Impaired reproductive function is one possible side effect of aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer. In severe cases, intensive anti-cancer treatment can lead to fertility loss. 7 to 9% of new cancer […]

What follow-up care is needed After treatment for leukemia?

Generally, doctors advise using the barrier method such as condoms, femidoms and dental dams. This applies to vaginal, anal or oral sex. Advice like this can be worrying, but this does not mean that you have to avoid being intimate with your partner. You can still have close contact and continue to enjoy sex.

What is complete remission from leukemia?

Dec 21, 2018 · Cancer treatment can also result in male infertility by causing death of spermatogonia or stem spermatogonia. 2 Transient infertility is common as a result of treatment with chemotherapies and ...

Can leukemia survivors get pregnant?

Fertility after ALL treatment

Most of the treatments for ALL are very likely to make you infertile. So you won't be able to become pregnant or father a child afterwards. Permanent infertility is almost certain if you have intensive treatment, such as a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

Can fertility come back after chemo?

If chemotherapy has made you infertile, it can be difficult to tell whether this is permanent or not. Some men stay infertile but others find their sperm returns to normal and their fertility comes back. It can take a few months or sometimes years for fertility to return to normal.

How long after cancer treatment can you get pregnant?

It's important to wait at least 6 months (or longer) to get pregnant after chemotherapy ends. You don't want to get pregnant with an egg that was damaged by chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, fertility may be short-lived.Feb 2, 2022

Does leukemia treatment cause infertility?

Chemotherapy and radiation can cause side effects as well as long-term and late effects, which can appear months or years after treatment. One possible late effect is infertility, the inability to conceive a child naturally.

What are the chances of getting pregnant after chemo?

Only approximately 10% maintained the desire to become pregnant after chemotherapy. Of six patients who still wanted to have children, four became pregnant, though two of these ended in a miscarriage.Oct 21, 2018

Which chemotherapy causes infertility?

Drugs which may cause infertility in men and women include: Alkylating agents- such as busulfan, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide and melphalan. Other categories of chemotherapy drugs, include Cytarabine, 5-flurouracil, methotrexate, vincristine, vinblastine, bleomycin, doxorubicin, and daunorubicin.

Does chemo destroy fertility?

The hormones, such as estrogen, needed to release eggs each month and prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy are made in the cells of the ovaries (oocytes). Oocytes tend to divide quickly, so are often affected by chemo. This can lead to loss of those important hormones and can affect fertility.Feb 6, 2020

Can chemo patients get pregnant?

Some health care providers recommend that women not get pregnant in the first 6 months after finishing chemotherapy. They say that any damaged eggs will leave the body within those first 6 months. Other health care providers suggest waiting 2 to 5 years before trying to have a baby.

Does cancer affect fertility?

How Can Cancer Treatment Affect Fertility? Some cancer treatments can damage the testes or ovaries (reproductive organs). This can lead to temporary or permanent infertility (not being able to have children). Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery all can have lasting effects on reproductive health.

Can leukemia come back after 10 years?

However, sometimes the cancer can come back again after treatment. This is called a relapse. Relapses are not uncommon with many types of leukemia.Aug 10, 2021

How long do leukemia survivors live?

Survival rates by type
TypeAge rangeSurvival rate
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)This type of leukemia is most common in older adults, but it can be diagnosed at any age. Most deaths occur in people ages 65 to 84.Relative survival rate for all ages 5 years after diagnosis is about 29.5% .
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Aug 18, 2021

Can leukemia affect sperm count?

Leukemia is one of the most common cancers in patients of reproductive age. It is well known that chemotherapy, used as anti-cancer therapy, adversely affects male fertility. Moreover, the negative effect of leukemia on sperm quality, even before chemotherapy treatment, has been reported.Jan 8, 2019

Is leukemia a late effect?

Childhood leukemia survivors are at risk, to some degree, for several possible late effects of their treatment. This risk depends on a number of factors, such as the type and subtype of leukemia, the type and doses of treatments they received, and the age of the child at the time of treatment. It’s important to discuss what these possible effects ...

Is it normal to have leukemia?

It’s certainly normal to want to put the leukemia and its treatment behind you and to get back to a life that doesn’ t revolve around cancer . But it’s important to realize that follow-up care is a central part of this process that offers your child the best chance for recovery and long-term survival.

What tests are done for leukemia?

Checkups typically include careful physical exams and lab tests, and sometimes might include imaging tests.

Can cancer go away after treatment?

For example, almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some go away soon after treatment, but others can last a long time, or might not even show up until years later. It’s important to report any new symptoms to the doctor right away, so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

Do children with leukemia live into adulthood?

Because of major advances in treatment, most children treated for leukemia now live into adulthood, so their health as they get older has become more of a concern in recent years.

Can chemo cause heart problems?

Certain chemotherapy drugs or radiation therapy to the chest can sometimes cause heart or lung problems later in life. The risks of heart disease and stroke are much higher among those treated for ALL as children, so careful follow-up is very important.

Does radiation affect learning?

Treatment that includes radiation therapy to the brain or some types of chemotherapy may affect learning ability in some children. Because of this, doctors try to limit treatments that could affect the brain (including radiation) as much as possible.

Does radiotherapy affect fertility?

Radiotherapy. Radiotherapy to the area can also affect fertility, this includes total body irradiation (TBI) . Even small amounts of radiotherapy to the ovaries can stop them from producing eggs. Radiotherapy can also affect the womb so that it is unable to support a baby.

How does chemo affect fertility?

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can affect a woman’s fertility by stopping the ovaries from producing eggs. If this happens, you won’t be able to become pregnant and may have symptoms of the menopause. If you have an early menopause, your doctor might offer you hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to reduce menopausal symptoms.

What are the side effects of HRT?

You take HRT as a tablet or you can have a skin patch, like a plaster. There are common side effects that you might get from HRT such as: 1 headaches 2 feeling sick 3 tiredness 4 breast pain and tenderness

Can you become pregnant if you haven't had children?

Most of the treatments for ALL are very likely to make you infertile. So you won't be able to become pregnant or father a child afterwards.

What is the best treatment for menopause?

Your doctor can treat early menopause with hormone replacement therapy. Or another drug called the combined pill . These can both help reduce menopausal symptoms and replace the hormones you would normally produce such as oestrogen and progesterone .

What are the side effects of taking a pill?

tiredness. breast pain and tenderness. The combined pill comes as a tablet, skin patch or as a ring that you put inside your vagina. This also comes with common side effects such as headaches, feeling sick, changes in mood, breast pain and tenderness, and weight gain.

Can cancer cause permanent infertility?

Cancer treatment can cause transient or permanent infertility in both men and women, and is dependent on the treatment regimen used. There are several fertility preservation approaches available for postpubertal patients.

What is the ASCO guideline?

3 Patients who are interested or uncertain about their interest in fertility should be referred to a reproductive specialist before treatment is initiated to discuss their fertility preservation options. Some patients may also benefit from a referral to a psychosocial provider to help cope with distress regarding potential loss of fertility.

What is the treatment for leukemia that doesn't go away?

If the leukemia cells have an IDH1 or IDH2 gene mutation, one option if the leukemia doesn’t go away or if it comes back later might be treatment with a targeted drug called an IDH inhibitor, such as ivosidenib (Tibsovo) for AML with an IDH1 mutation, or enasidenib (Idhifa) for AML with an IDH2 mutation. Other options might include chemo ...

What is supportive care for leukemia?

Supportive treatment for leukemia that won't go away. If further treatment or a clinical trial is not an option, the focus of treatment may shift to controlling symptoms caused by the leukemia, rather than trying to cure it. This is called palliative treatment or supportive care.

How to tell if you have leukemia?

Other common symptoms from leukemia are low blood counts and fatigue. Medicines or blood transfusions may be needed to help correct these problems. Nausea and loss of appetite can be treated with medicines and high-calorie food supplements. Infections that occur may be treated with antibiotics.

Does AML go away?

Most often, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) will go into remission after the initial treatment. But sometimes it doesn't go away completely, or it comes back (relapses) after a period of remission. If this happens, other treatments can be tried, as long as a person is healthy enough for them.

Can you get AML with chemotherapy?

If AML doesn’t go away completely with induction treatment, sometimes a second, similar course of chemotherapy (chemo), often called reinduction, can be tried. If this isn't helpful, treatment with other chemo drugs or more intensive doses of chemo may be tried, if the person can tolerate them. A stem cell transplant may be an option for some people, as it can allow higher doses of chemo to be used. Clinical trials of new treatment approaches may also be an option.

How long does it take for ATRA to relapse?

For patients whose initial treatment was with the non-chemo drugs all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) and who relapse early (usually within about 6 months), treatment will most likely be with some of the same chemo drugs used to treat other types of AML.

What is the best medicine for pain?

If medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen don’t help with the pain, stronger opioid medicines such as morphine are likely to be helpful. Some people may worry about taking stronger drugs for fear of being sleepy all the time or becoming addicted to them.

What is the treatment for leukemia?

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the major form of treatment for leukemia. This drug treatment uses chemicals to kill leukemia cells. Depending on the type of leukemia you have, you may receive a single drug or a combination of drugs. These drugs may come in a pill form, or they may be injected directly into a vein.

Can leukemia be devastating?

A diagnosis of leukemia may be devastating — especially for the family of a newly diagnosed child. With time you'll find ways to cope with the distress and uncertainty of cancer. Until then, you may find it helps to: Learn enough about leukemia to make decisions about your care.

Can leukemia be detected in blood?

A blood test may also show the presence of leukemia cells, though not all types of leukemia cause the leukemia cells to circula te in the blood. Sometimes the leukemia cells stay in the bone marrow. Bone marrow test. Your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove a sample of bone marrow from your hipbone.

How is bone marrow removed?

The bone marrow is removed using a long, thin needle. The sample is sent to a laboratory to look for leukemia cells. Specialized tests of your leukemia cells may reveal certain characteristics that are used to determine your treatment options.

What is targeted therapy?

Targeted therapy. Targeted drug treatment s focus on specific abnormalities present within cancer cells. By blocking these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die. Your leukemia cells will be tested to see if targeted therapy may be helpful for you. Radiation therapy.

What is the treatment for bone marrow transplant?

Radiation therapy may be used to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow transplant. A bone marrow transplant, also called a stem cell transplant, helps reestablish healthy stem cells by replacing unhealthy bone marrow with leukemia-free stem cells that will regenerate healthy bone marrow.

Can you use your own stem cells?

You may receive stem cells from a donor or you may be able to use your own stem cells. Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer. Your body's disease-fighting immune system may not attack your cancer because the cancer cells produce proteins that help them hide from the immune system cells.

What age do you have to be to get leukemia?

According to the National Cancer Institute, leukemia is most frequently diagnosed among people between the ages of 65 and 74 years. The median age at diagnosis is 66. There are treatment options for patients of all ages, include chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Advertising Policy.

How old is the average person with leukemia?

According to the National Cancer Institute, leukemia is most frequently diagnosed among people between the ages of 65 and 74 years. The median age at diagnosis is 66.

How much chance of remission in 60s?

A person in his 60s who undergoes intensive chemotherapy has a 55 to 60% chance of going into remission. This means that all signs and symptoms of cancer disappear, although the cancer may still be in the body.

Is leukemia a childhood disease?

Leukemia in older adults. Leukemia is often considered a childhood illness. Even though it is one of the most common childhood cancers, the blood disorder cancer actually affects far more adults. According to the National Cancer Institute, leukemia is most frequently diagnosed among people between the ages of 65 and 74 years.

Can leukemia return?

Leukemia may return, or relapse, after apparently disappearing. Chemotherapy and targeted drugs are the primary leukemia treatments. Radiation is sometimes used, and stem cell therapy is an option for advanced leukemia that doesn't respond to treatment.

How long does it take to cure leukemia?

Cure is possible with leukemia. 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.

What are the different types of leukemia?

These are the most common types of leukemia: 1 Acute lymphocytic leukemia. ALL develops from lymphocytes. The leukemia cells quickly spread to the blood and sometimes to lymph nodes and bodily organs including the spleen, liver, brain and spinal cord. ALL is the most common type of leukemia in children, teens and adults under 40. 2 Acute myeloid leukemia. AML involves overproduction of a type of myeloid cells. Most AML cases occur in older adults, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Although AML can be diagnosed at any age, it's uncommon in people younger than 45, with an average age of diagnosis of 68. 3 Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. Chronic forms of leukemia, CLL and CML arise later in life and gradually grow over the years. Chronic leukemia is more common in men.

How to tell if you have leukemia?

Someone with leukemia may have the following symptoms: 1 Pale appearance. 2 Weakness, fatigue or shortness of breath while playing or during activity. 3 Severe or frequent infections. 4 Recurring fever or chills. 5 Easy bruising. 6 Frequent nosebleeds. 7 Bleeding that continues for a long time, even with minor injuries or cuts. 8 Tiny red or purplish skin spots, called petechiae. 9 Bone or joint pain. 10 Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or elsewhere. 11 Reduced appetite and unintended weight loss. 12 Abdominal pain.

How many people will be diagnosed with leukemia in 2020?

An estimated 60,500 Americans will be diagnosed with leukemia in 2020, according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program of the National Cancer Institute. Currently, the five-year relative survival rate after being diagnosed with leukemia is about 64%, according to SEER. "Relative survival" compares survival ...

Where does leukemia spread?

The leukemia cells quickly spread to the blood and sometimes to lymph nodes and bodily organs including the spleen, liver, brain and spinal cord. ALL is the most common type of leukemia in children, teens and adults under 40. Acute myeloid leukemia.

Do children with leukemia go through remission?

As pediatric patients with leukemia go through remission, they're also going through childhood development phases. "The older through treatment the patient is, the less trouble we have in terms of major developmental milestones," Gruber says. "However, many of my infant ALL patients do have some development delay. A lot of that is because they're getting treatment, they're in the hospital and they don't have time to develop normally."

Follow-Up Exams and Tests

  • For several years after treatment, regular follow-up exams will be very important. The doctors will watch for possible signs of leukemia, as well as for short-term and long-term side effects of treatment. Checkups typically include careful physical exams and lab tests, and sometimes might include imaging tests. The schedule for these checkups will ...
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Keeping Health Insurance and Copies of Medical Records

  • As much as you might want to put the experience behind you once treatment is completed, it’s also very important to keep good records of your (child’s) medical care during this time. Gathering these details soon after treatment may be easier than trying to get them at some point in the future. This can be very helpful later on if you (or your child) change doctors. Learn more about t…
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Late and Long-Term Effects of Treatment

  • Because of major advances in treatment, most children treated for leukemia now live into adulthood, so their health as they get older has become more of a concern in recent years. Just as the treatment of childhood leukemia requires a very specialized approach, so does the care and follow-up after treatment. The earlier problems are recognized, the more likely it is they can be tr…
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Social and Emotional Issues During and After Treatment

  • Social and emotional issues may come up during and after treatment. Factors such as the child’s age when diagnosed and the extent of treatment can play a role here. Some children may have emotional or psychological issues that need to be addressed during and after treatment. Depending on their age, they may also have some problems with normal functioning and school …
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