what are the side effects of treatment for leukemia

Side Effects and Complications

• Infection. During treatment for AML, the deficiency of neutrophils and monocytes (types of white cells) can lead to infection. ...
• Graft versus host disease. If you undergo an allogeneic stem cell transplantation, you're at high risk of developing graft versus host disease (GVHD). ...
• Tumor Lysis Syndrome. ...
• Differentiation Syndrome. ...

Full Answer

What would be the most likely treatment for leukemia?

Leukemia treatment choices depend on the type of leukemia, certain features of the leukemia cells, the extent of the disease, and prior history of treatment, as well as the age and health of the patient. Most people with leukemia are treated with chemotherapy. Some also may have radiation therapy and/or bone marrow transplantation.

Can leukemia be treated without taking chemotherapy?

Treatment. Treatment for your leukemia depends on many factors. Your doctor determines your leukemia treatment options based on your age and overall health, the type of leukemia you have, and whether it has spread to other parts of your body, including the central nervous system. Common treatments used to fight leukemia include: Chemotherapy.

What are the side effects of radiation therapy for leukemia?

They may include:

• Ongoing skin problems, such as redness
• Inflammation of the lungs (called interstitial pneumonitis)
• Decreased bone and soft tissue growth, which mostly affects children
• Slow intellectual development in children who get radiation to the brain as part of their treatment
• Hearing loss
• Clouding of the lenses of the eye (cataracts)

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What is short term effect on leukemia?

This can result in:

• Anemia (a low red blood cell count), which can cause a person to feel weak and tired.
• A low white blood cell count, which can lower the body’s ability to fight infections and might even be life-threatening.
• A low blood platelet count, which can lead to excess bruising and bleeding.

What are the long term effects of leukemia treatment?

Lung damage (scarring, inflammation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung failure) Infertility, including premature ovarian failure and premature menopause in women and low testosterone levels and sperm counts in men. Osteoporosis (low bone density) Hearing loss.

What happens when you have leukemia treatment?

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.

What are the side effects of chemo for leukemia?

Chemo drugs also affect the normal cells in bone marrow, which can lower blood cell counts. This can lead to: Increased risk of infections (from having too few normal white blood cells)...Possible side effectsHair loss.Mouth sores.Loss of appetite.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea or constipation.

What are the side effects or complications of leukemia?

Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:Fever or chills.Persistent fatigue, weakness.Frequent or severe infections.Losing weight without trying.Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen.Easy bleeding or bruising.Recurrent nosebleeds.Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)More items...

Can you fully recover from leukemia?

As with other types of cancer, there's currently no cure for leukemia. People with leukemia sometimes experience remission, a state after diagnosis and treatment in which the cancer is no longer detected in the body. However, the cancer may recur due to cells that remain in your body.

How successful is chemotherapy for 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.

Does chemo for leukemia make you sick?

Nausea and Vomiting Chemotherapy and targeted therapy can give you stomach trouble. But even if you're not in the mood for food because you feel nauseated, it's important to eat to keep up your strength. Your doctor may be able to prescribe anti-nausea medication to curb your queasiness and settle your tummy.

Which type of leukemia is most 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%.

What is the most common side effect of chemotherapy?

Tiredness (fatigue) is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. Many people having treatment feel tired a lot of the time or get tired very easily doing everyday tasks.

How long can leukemia patients live?

Survival rates by typeTypeAge rangeSurvival rateAcute 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% .4 more rows•Aug 18, 2021

Can leukemia be cured if caught early?

Leukemia is the cancer of the blood-forming tissues that includes bone marrow and lymphatic system. Adults and children are equally affected by Leukemia, which is seen as production of abnormal white blood cells by the bone marrow.

What are the 5 stages of leukemia?

What are the stages of CLL?Stage 0. The blood has too many white blood cells called lymphocytes. This is called lymphocytosis. ... Stage I. The blood has too many lymphocytes. ... Stage II. The blood has too many lymphocytes. ... Stage III. The blood has too many lymphocytes. ... Stage IV. The blood has too many lymphocytes.

What are the side effects of leukemia?

All forms of leukemia treatment – including chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation – can potentially produce unwanted side effects. Those that are most likely to occur include mouth ulcers, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, skin rashes, loss of appetite and fatigue. Some other possible side effects include: 1 Low blood cell counts – Leukemia treatment is designed to target abnormal blood cells, but it can sometimes affect healthy blood cells as well, resulting in an overall decline in blood cell production. 2 Infections – Because white blood cells help your body’s immune system fight off germs and other invaders, a reduced white blood cell count can make you more susceptible to infections. 3 Graft versus host disease (GVHD) – If you undergo an allogeneic stem cell transplantation, you may develop GVHD, which occurs when donor immune cells mistakenly target healthy cells. 4 Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) – Sometimes induced by chemotherapy, TLS is a metabolic abnormality that results from a sudden release of dying cancer cells into the bloodstream. Left untreated, TLS can lead to serious medical complications, such as heart arrhythmias, seizures, loss of muscle control and kidney failure. 5 Hyperglycemia and steroid-induced diabetes – Certain corticosteroids can produce high blood sugar levels, which can lead to the development of health complications if you are diabetic.

How to prepare for leukemia?

The best way to prepare yourself for the side effects of leukemia treatment is to talk with your physician before you begin your therapy. By learning about the possible side effects and the options you have to manage them, you will feel more in control and confident about the road that lies ahead.

What is TLS in cancer?

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) – Sometimes induced by chemotherapy, TLS is a metabolic abnormality that results from a sudden release of dying cancer cells into the bloodstream. Left untreated, TLS can lead to serious medical complications, such as heart arrhythmias, seizures, loss of muscle control and kidney failure.

Can chemotherapy cause leukemia?

Leukemia treatment can cause a number of side effects. For instance, chemotherapy drugs can be very effective for destroying cancerous cells, but these medications are so powerful that they may sometimes damage healthy cells in the process. In most cases, any resulting health issues will be temporary and resolve after treatment is completed.

Does leukemia affect blood cells?

Low blood cell counts – Leukemia treatment is designed to target abnormal blood cells, but it can sometimes affect healthy blood cells as well, resulting in an overall decline in blood cell production.

What are the side effects of chemo?

The side effects you may experience depend on: 1 The intensity of chemotherapy 2 The drugs used during therapy 3 Your overall health and whether you have any chronic health conditions like diabetes or kidney disease

What are the side effects of all stem cell transplants?

Side effects common to ALL and its treatment, especially chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, include: Low blood cell counts . ALL can cause a decrease in normal blood cell production.

What is tumor lysis syndrome?

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS). TLS is characterized by metabolic abnormalities caused by the sudden release of the cellular contents of dying cells into the bloodstream, which is induced by chemotherapy. If untreated, TLS can lead to heart arrhythmias, seizures, loss of muscle control, acute kidney failure and even death.

Can chemo cause low blood cell count?

Low blood cell counts . ALL can cause a decrease in normal blood cell production. Chemotherapy is toxic to both normal blood cells and ALL cells, making the number of your healthy cells decrease. Infection .

Can proton pump inhibitors be used for stomach ulcers?

Patients should be monitored for glucose control. Stomach ulcers. Use of proton-pump inhibitor drugs to reduce stomach acid is recommended during steroid therapy to reduce these risks. The following side effects are also common.

Can TLS cause heart failure?

If untreated, TLS can lead to heart arrhythmias, seizures, loss of muscle control, acute kidney failure and even death. Patients with leukemia are constantly monitored for the development of TLS and are given drugs, such as allopurinol (Zyloprim®) or rasburicase (Elitek®), to prevent or lessen the effects of this condition.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

Click here to read more about these side effects. Extreme fatigue. Infections. Hair loss.

Can chemotherapy cause cancer?

Chemotherapy drugs are the main culprits when it comes to causing unwanted side effects. These drugs can kill cancer cells, but they but damage normal cells, too. The lining of the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines are particularly vulnerable to damage.

Do side effects of a syringe go away?

For most patients, treatment side effects are temporary and go away once therapy ends. For other patients, side effects can be more severe, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Some patients never have side effects. Before you undergo treatment, talk with your doctor about potential side effects.

Does CLL go away?

Therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) sometimes produces side effects. Side effects from kinase inhibitor drugs and monoclonal antibody therapy are generally milder than side effects from chemotherapy. For most patients, treatment side effects are temporary and go away once therapy ends. For other patients, side effects can be more severe, ...

How does leukemia affect the brain?

The drugs which are used for the leukemia treatment may affect the brain’s capability of learning things. Take proper guidance and perform mental exercises to deal with such type of problems.

What happens if your platelets are low?

The common problems which the patient with low platelets can face are nosebleeds, blood in the stool or urine, and bleeding gums. So, be very conscious of being injured during this period.

Why do I get infections from chemo?

The cause of frequent infections is common if chemo drugs have been used on you during the leukemia treatment. The chemo drugs affect the count of white blood cells in the body. As we all know that the white blood cells are the fighter of the human body. They fight and kills the foreign cells, and with the deficiency of WBCs in the body, the body becomes more prone to catch an infection. So, the best way to remain healthy is to stay in the neat and clean environment and boycott all the things which can bring germs to you. Never forget to consult with the doctor if you face any such issue.

Does leukemia affect fertility?

Both boys and girls face an issue of fertility after the childhood leukemia treatment. Leukemia treatment also affects the sexual development in both sexes and the ability to have children later in life.

Can leukemia cause diarrhea?

After the leukemia treatment, there are chances of Diarrhea and Constipation. If you experience any of these, report the doctor and take proper medicines. Also, it is suggested to the patients to drink plenty of water to minimize the chances of Diarrhea and Constipation.

Can radiation cause heart problems?

Certain types of chemotherapy or radiation therapy drugs can cause heart or lung problems. Also, the severity of Heart and Lung Problem is supported by high blood pressure and overweight.

Can leukemia cause long term problems?

After discussing all side effects of leukemia in the children, let’s discuss the sides effects of childhood leukemia treatment. As it is known to all that getting caused by cancer at an early can cause long-term problems for the kids.

What are the effects of leukemia treatment?

Heart or thyroid problems. Tissue damage and other physical effects. Cognitive effects. Late effects that arise as a result of leukemia treatment vary depending on the type of treatment received and the person’s age and gender.

What happens if you are in remission after leukemia?

This means that cancer cells can no longer be detected in the body. Although remission is a milestone that people in leukemia treatment hope to reach, it is not the end of the road. There may still be low levels of cancer cells that are present but cannot be detected. These residual cells (or residual disease) pose a risk for relapse, which occurs when cancer reappears after a period of time.

What is the MyLeukemiaTeam?

Long-term side effects of leukemia treatment can take a toll on one’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being, so it helps to have extra support. MyLeukemiaTeam is the social network for people with leukemia and their loved ones . On MyLeukemiaTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with leukemia.

What are the side effects of radiation?

Other physical late side effects include vision problems (such as cataracts), osteoporosis, dental issues (such as excessive cavities), and hearing loss.

What is the risk of CML?

Additionally, men with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) have displayed an elevated risk for developing certain cancers after treatment, including oral cancer, prostate cancer, and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.

How does leukemia affect memory?

Aside from the potential physical late side effects of treatment, cognitive issues are also a risk and concern for survivors of leukemia. Memory and concentration may be negatively affected as a result of treatment, sometimes referred to as “ chemo brain ” or “chemo fog.” Children with AML and ALL may be treated with therapies that affect the central nervous system (CNS), such as methotrexate or total body irradiation. Their effects on the CNS may negatively affect learning in school and the ability to retain information for children who survive cancer.

How does radiation help with leukemia?

One of the primary treatments for leukemia is radiation therapy, which acts by causing damage to cells. The cancer cells are sensitive to this damage and die as a result. Although radiation may be successful at treating the original disease, normal healthy cells are also affected by radiation, potentially leading to late side effects. Total body irradiation (TBI), in particular, is associated with more severe side effects because this type of treatment causes damage to more of the body’s cells.

What are the side effects of chemo?

Chemotherapy can cause a number of difficult side effects, including: 1 Nausea 2 Vomiting 3 Fatigue 4 Sores in the mouth 5 Loss of hair 6 Low blood counts

How long does chemotherapy last?

Induction chemotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy usually last for months. The third phase, or “maintenance chemotherapy,” is designed to lower the odds that the cancer will return. Maintenance chemotherapy can be administered in pill form. Patients may have to take these pills for as long as two years.

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy is administered in cycles of treatment days interspersed with rest days. This allows the body to recover from the treatment. Patients undergo chemotherapy in phases. The first phase, known as the “induction phase,” is designed to eliminate as many cancer cells as possible and put the leukemia into remission.

What is the second phase of cancer?

The second phase, called the “consolidation phase, ” is meant to destroy any cancer cells that might be lingering in the body. During these two phases, patients are often hospitalized so their physicians and nurses can monitor their progress and help them cope with side effects.

Can leukemia patients be admitted to the hospital?

For this reason, leukemia patients are often admitted to the hospital to undergo chemotherapy, especially during the earlier cycles. Your care team will help you manage side effects as they occur. Some patients find palliative care (or care that seeks to reduce pain and improve quality of life) to be helpful as well.

How do you know if you are on chemo?

If the impact is on your red blood cells, you may have symptoms like feeling tired or getting short of breath. If chemo affects your platelets, you could bruise or bleed easily. While you're on treatment, be extra careful to stay away from people who are sick. Wash your hands often during the day.

What to do if your blood count is low?

If your blood cell counts are very low, you might need a transfusion of platelets or red blood cells. Tiredness. Many treatments for CLL cause you to lose energy.

Can CLL slow down cancer?

The treatment you get for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can slow your cancer, but it also might cause some physical and emotional side effects. Your doctor or mental health counselor can suggest medicine or therapy that can ease the impact of treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, targeted drugs, and monoclonal antibodies.

Does chemotherapy affect blood cells?

Continued. Low Blood Cell Counts. Chemotherapy attacks cells that divide quickly. These include not only cancer, but also the cells inside your bone marrow that grow into new blood cells. Which side effects you have depend on the type of blood cell your chemotherapy attacks.

Can CLL cause nausea?

Nausea and Vomiting. CLL treatments affect signals in your brain that make you feel the urge to throw up. This side effect is less common than it used to be, because now there are medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting. You'll get these drugs a few days before and after your chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

Why is leukemia confusing?

The term "leukemia" can be confusing because it refers to a group of cancers that aren't all that similar except for the fact that they affect the bone marrow and blood.

What tests can you do for leukemia?

If this happens, or if you have signs or symptoms that suggest leukemia, you may undergo the following diagnostic exams: Physical exam. Your doctor will look for physical signs of leukemia, such as pale skin from anemia, swelling of your lymph nodes, and enlargement of your liver and spleen. Blood tests. By looking at a sample of your blood, your ...

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.

How does immunotherapy work?

Immunotherapy works by interfering with that process. Engineering immune cells to fight leukemia.

What is clinical trial?

Clinical trials are experiments to test new cancer treatments and new ways of using existing treatments. While clinical trials give you or your child a chance to try the latest cancer treatment, treatment benefits and risks may be uncertain. Discuss the benefits and risks of clinical trials with your doctor.

Can targeted therapy cause cancer?

Targeted drug treatments 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.

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.