Treatment FAQ

what are the treatment of leukemia

by Earline Bergstrom Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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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.

Medication

Sep 28, 2021 · Treatment of Leukemia. Chemotherapy – this is a major treatment for leukemia. This treatment is using chemicals that are focused on killing leukemia cells. Targeted therapy – the targeted drug treatments are concentrated on specific abnormalities that are present within the cancer cells. By being ...

Procedures

For people with ALL, our doctors may recommend chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or bone marrow transplantation, depending on the subtype of the disease. Treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Our doctors may recommend chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or bone marrow/hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for people diagnosed with AML.

Therapy

Chemotherapy (drug treatment to destroy leukemia cells) is the mainstay of leukemia treatment, and may incorporate multiple types of drugs. Radiation and surgery are contemplated only for cases in which leukemia cells have collected in definitive areas.

Nutrition

Sep 29, 2021 · Types of immunotherapy for leukemia include: Monoclonal antibody therapy. This therapy helps your body produce antibodies that typically fight infection. CAR T-cell therapy. This is a newer type of...

What are the different ways to cure leukemia?

Dec 12, 2014 · For acute lymphocytic leukemia, treatment generally occurs in phases: phase 1 uses chemotherapy in the hospital to try to control the disease. phase 2 continues chemotherapy, but on an outpatient basis, to keep the disease in remission. This means that person returns to the hospital for treatment, but does not stay overnight.

What would be the most likely treatment for leukemia?

Leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the early blood-forming cells. Most often, leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells, but some leukemias start in other blood cell types. There are several types of leukemia, which are divided based mainly on whether the leukemia is acute (fast growing) or chronic (slower growing), and whether it starts in ...

How to cure leukemia naturally?

Is there a known treatment and cure for leukemia?

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What exams would be Performed?

As mentioned, your doctor will be requiring to perform series of exams to come up with the best treatment plan. Some of these exams may be anything from the following:

Treatment of Leukemia

Keep in mind that the treatment procedure for leukemia would be dictated by a number of different factors. Your doctor will be determining your options for leukemia treatment based on overall health and age, type of leukemia that you have and whether it began spreading in several parts of your body.

What is the treatment for leukemia?

Chemotherapy (drug treatment to destroy leukemia cells) is the mainstay of leukemia treatment, and may incorporate multiple types of drugs. Radiation and surgery are contemplated only for cases in which leukemia cells have collected in definitive areas.

How many drugs are given for leukemia?

Depending on the type of leukemia, you may receive a single drug or a combination of two or more drugs. The medications may be prescribed as pills, or as fluids administered through a needle or tube inserted into a vein; through a tube inserted in the chest; or through injection into the cerebrospinal fluid.

How does radiation kill leukemia?

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill leukemia cells by damaging the genetic material they contain . This treatment can be used adjunctively to chemotherapy to control disease or eradicate local areas of disease. Some patients receive targeted radiation from a large machine aimed at the spleen, brain or other parts of the body where leukemia cells have collected. This type of therapy takes place five days a week for several weeks. Others may receive radiation directed to the whole body. These sessions are given once or twice a day for a few days, usually before a stem cell transplant.

What is the drug used for minimal residual leukemia?

Dose-intensive, curative chemotherapy for minimal residual leukemia. Pioneered clinical trials of the drug tipifarnib, known by its trade name Zarnestra, which blocks an enzyme called farnesyltransferase, which modifies certain cellular proteins so that they can attach to cellular membranes or other structures.

How long does radiation therapy last?

This type of therapy takes place five days a week for several weeks. Others may receive radiation directed to the whole body.

What organ is removed to help fight infection?

In some cases of CLL, for example, doctors may recommend surgery to remove the spleen, an organ located in the abdomen behind the ribs that removes and destroys old red blood cells and helps fight infection. The procedure, called a splenectomy, is helpful if the spleen is destroying red blood cells and platelets.

Where are clinical trials being conducted for leukemia?

Doctors at some medical centers including the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center are conducting clinical trials to test novel vaccines for leukemia.

What is HPSCT?

A bone marrow transplant, or HPSCT, is the process of replacing blood cells in the body. To do this, healthy blood stem cells are injected into the body. These stem cells travel to the bone marrow where they replace the current stem cells called hematopoietic stem cells.

How is it done?

Receiving stem cells is similar to receiving a blood transfusion. A needle may be inserted into a large vein in your arm, or you may have a central venous catheter placed in a blood vessel in the right side of your chest and the stems cells will flow into your heart.

What are the side effects and risks?

Complications may occur, but not everyone will experience them. Complications may include:

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy uses strong drugs or chemicals, sometimes in combination, to damage or kill cancer cells. This treatment is systemic, which means chemotherapy drugs attack cancer cells, which tend to be fast-growing. However, these drugs can also affect healthy cells.

How is it given?

Chemotherapy can be given orally as a pill, capsule, or liquid, but most of the time, the drugs are given intravenously, through a catheter or central line. This is a port-like device attached to one of your veins that allows you to receive intravenous drugs.

Which types of leukemia may be treated with this?

All four main types of leukemia may be treated with chemotherapy. In ALL, AML, and CLL, it’s the first and main treatment. For CML, targeted therapies are typically used first, followed by chemotherapy.

What are the side effects and risks?

As with any medical treatment, there are side effects with chemotherapy depending on the drug used, dosage, and how long you take it.

How to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia?

As with acute lymphocytic leukemia, treatment usually begins with induction therapy in an effort to send the leukemia into remission. When leukemia cells can no longer be seen, consolidation therapy begins. Bone marrow transplantation may also be considered in the treatment plan.

Why does leukemia occur?

Leukemia can occur due to. genetic abnormalities. exposure to radiation and chemicals such as benzene (found in unleaded gasoline) and other hydrocarbons. exposure to agents used to cure or control other cancers, including radiation. Leukemia is usually not inherited.

What is the most common form of leukemia?

Lymphatic and myelogenous leukemias are the most common. However, cancers of other types of bone marrow cells can develop. Megakaryocytic leukemia arises from megakaryocytes, cells that form platelets. (Platelets help blood to clot.) Another rare form of leukemia is erythroleukemia. It arises from cells that that form red blood cells. Like chronic and acute leukemias, rare forms of the disease can be categorized into subtypes. The subtype depends on what markers the cells carry on their surface.

What is the most common type of leukemia in adults?

Acute myeloid leukemia accounts for half of leukemia cases diagnosed in teenagers and in people in their 20s. It is the most common acute leukemia in adults. Acute myeloid leukemia occurs when primitive blood-forming cells called myeloblasts reproduce without developing into normal blood cells.

How old is a person with chronic leukemia?

Chronic leukemia usually develops more slowly and is a less dramatic illness than acute leukemia. There are two main types of chronic leukemia: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is rare in people under age 30. It is more likely to develop as a person ages. Most cases occur in people between ages 60 and 70.

When does chronic myeloid leukemia occur?

Chronic myeloid leukemia occurs most often in people between ages 25 and 60. In chronic myeloid leukemia, the abnormal cells are a type of blood cell called myeloid cells.

What tests can be done to check for abnormal cells?

Routine blood tests, especially blood cell counts, may yield abnormal results. At this point, your doctor may order other tests, including. blood tests to check for abnormal cells. a bone marrow biopsy (a sample of bone marrow is removed and examined) tests for genetic abnormalities.

What is CLL in medical terms?

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that starts from white blood cells (called lymphocytes) in the bone marrow. CLL mainly affects older adults, and accounts for about one-third of all leukemias.

What is the name of the cancer that starts in the blood?

Leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the early blood-forming cells. Most often, leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells, but some leukemias start in other blood cell types.

What is the name of the cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and invades

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia, is a type of cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and invades the blood. Only about 10% of leukemias are CML.

Is leukemia common in children?

Leukemia in Children. Leukemia is the most common cancer in children and teens , accounting for almost 1 out of 3 cancers. Most childhood leukemias are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Most of the remaining cases are acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Chronic leukemias are rare in children.

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Treatment

Clinical Trials

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy and stem cell transplantation.
Medication

Chemotherapy: Depending on the type of leukemia, single or combinations of drugs may be required to destroy leukemia cells.

Methotrexate


Monoclonal antibodies: Biological or immune therapy uses treatments that help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Rituximab


Targeted therapy drugs: Other treatment option includes targeted therapy, uses specific drug that targets only cancerous cells.

Imatinib

Procedures

Stem cell transplantation: Diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy bone marrow, either from other parts of the body or from a donor.

Therapy

Radiation therapy:To damage leukemia cells and inhibit their growth. Applied to a specific area or entire body depending on the severity.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Balanced healthy diet such as
  • Variety of fruits and vegetables
  • Whole grains
  • Fat free or low Fat dairy
  • Low Fat proteins such as poultry or lean meat
  • Healthy oils like olive oil

Foods to avoid:

  • Dry-cured, uncooked salami
  • Unpasteurized (raw) milk and milk products, including raw milk yogurt
  • Soft cheeses made from Unpasteurized milk

Specialist to consult

Oncologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Hematologist
Specializes in the study of the blood and blood disorders.

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