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Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, and/or targeted therapy. Get detailed information about newly diagnosed and recurrent ALL in this expert-reviewed summary. ... Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by ...
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The first phase of treatment, called induction chemotherapy, requires that patients remain in the hospital for approximately four weeks. Induction Chemotherapy. The most common drugs used for induction treatment of ALL are daunorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, asparaginase and sometimes cyclophosphamide.
How is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated?
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. This aims to kill any remaining leukaemia cells.
What is the duration of treatment for adult leukemia?
Stem Cell Transplant for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) Common treatment approaches Treatment of ALL typically lasts for about 2 years. It is often intense, especially in the first few months of treatment, so it's important that you are treated in a …
How long does it take for lymphocytic leukemia to go away?
Long term side effects of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) After some types of leukaemia treatment you might develop long term side effects weeks, months or years after the treatment has ended. Different types of treatment cause different problems. And unfortunately doctors can't tell who will get a long term effect and who won't.
What is the first phase of treatment for leukemia?
As the response to how well it has worked will decide what treatment you are going to have next. 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.
How long is maintenance therapy for leukemia?
Maintenance treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is given to maintain remission. It is usually given over a long period of time and often lasts for 2–3 years. Maintenance treatments may be shorter if more intense regimens were given in the earlier treatment phases.
Can you live a long life after acute lymphoblastic leukemia?
While acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children is more common than other types of cancer, it has high cure rates. Survival rates are lower in adults, but they are improving. The 5-year relative survival rate for ALL is 68.8%. The statistics further break down to 90% in children and 30-40% in adults.
Why is treatment for leukemia 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.
Does acute lymphoblastic leukemia come back?
As with many types of cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), also known as acute lymphocytic leukemia, can come back after successful treatment. This is known as a relapse. Relapses can cause you to feel many of the symptoms you felt before you were first diagnosed.
Can you live 20 years with leukemia?
People in stages 0 to II may live for 5 to 20 years without treatment. CLL has a very high incidence rate in people older than 60 years. CLL affects men more than women. If the disease has affected the B cells, the person's life expectancy can range from 10 to 20 years.
What is the life expectancy of someone with acute lymphocytic leukemia?
The average five-year survival rate of leukemia is 60-65%. The survival rate of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) depends on the age of the patient and the response to chemotherapy. The average five-year survival in ALL is 68.1%. Survival rates continue to improve with newer and improved treatment modalities.
How many cycles of chemo do you need for leukemia?
The best option for each person depends on the risk of the leukemia coming back after treatment, as well as other factors. For HiDAC, cytarabine is given at very high doses, typically over 5 days. This is repeated about every 4 weeks, usually for a total of 3 or 4 cycles.
Does acute lymphoblastic leukemia have stages?
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) stages Typically, the size of the tumor and the spread of the cancer are evaluated and a stage is assigned. For acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), staging does not occur in this way because the disease originates in the bone marrow and usually does not form tumor masses.
Can you be in remission from leukemia?
Remission and the chance of recurrence A remission is when leukemia cannot be detected in the body and there are no symptoms. This may also be called having “no evidence of disease” or NED. A remission may be temporary or permanent. This uncertainty causes many people to worry that the leukemia will come back.
How do you know if leukemia has relapsed?
The symptoms of relapsed ALL are the same as those for newly diagnosed ALL, including:Anemia.Bone and joint pain.Bruising or petechiae (small red spots on the skin)Fever.Recurrent infections.Abdominal pain.Swollen lymph nodes.Dyspnea or difficulty breathing.
How do you know if leukemia has come back?
Your doctor will tell you that you've relapsed if the number of leukemia cells in your bone marrow has gone up and you have fewer healthy cells in your blood. AML can relapse if: The cancer didn't respond well to the first treatment you tried. Treatment didn't get rid of all the leukemia cells.
Can acute leukemia be cured completely?
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects your blood cells and bone marrow. 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.
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.
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.
What is the aim of the induction phase?
Aim of the induction phase. The aim of the induction phase is to destroy the leukaemia cells. If there is no sign of leukaemia in your blood and bone marrow after treatment it is called a complete remission (CR).
What is intrathecal chemo?
This is called intrathecal chemotherapy. It treats leukaemia cells that are in the CNS. Or you have it to prevent leukaemia cells spreading to the CNS (CNS prophylaxis).
What is the treatment called for leukemia?
Treatment called central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis therapy is usually given during each phase of therapy. Because standard doses of chemotherapy may not reach leukemia cells in the CNS (brain and spinal cord ), the leukemia cells are able to hide in the CNS.
Can leukemia cause bleeding?
These leukemia cells are not able to fight infection very well. Also, as the number of leukemia cells increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This may cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding.
What are leukemia cells?
These cells are also called leukemia cells. These leukemia cells are not able to fight infection very well. Also, as the number of leukemia cells increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This may cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding.
Can leukemia spread to the brain?
This may cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding. The cancer can also spread to the central nervous system ( brain and spinal cord ).
Can leukemia cause side effects?
Treatment for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia may cause side effects. For information about side effects that begin during treatment for cancer, see our Side Effects page. Side effects from cancer treatment that begin after treatment and continue for months or years are called late effects. Late effects of treatment for ALL may include ...
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 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.
How is lymphoblastic leukemia treated?
The treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) varies according to one's age, general condition at diagnosis and the results of the cytogenetic testing. Standard therapy for ALL has changed very little in the last 15 years or so, as the current strategy has been very effective at curing adults. The goal of treatment is a cure. Treatment can be divided into four phases: 1 First phase — induction chemotherapy 2 Second phase — consolidation chemotherapy 3 Third phase — maintenance chemotherapy 4 Fourth phase — central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis
How long does it take to cure leukemia?
Complete therapy for ALL typically continues for two to three years.
How long does chemo last for leukemia?
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 many people are in complete remission?
Complete remission — a cure — is achieved in approximately 90 percent of patients, with 25 percent to 40 percent enjoying long-term survival. About 5 percent of patients die of treatment-related complications during their initial therapy, and another 5 percent never achieve an initial remission.
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 long do you have to take chemo pills?
Once patients have completed intensive chemotherapy, they need to take oral chemotherapy pills for an additional 18 to 24 months. These oral chemotherapy pills — typically methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine — are usually well-tolerated with only minimal side effects.
Can chemo be injected into the spinal fluid?
To prevent relapse at this location, chemotherapy must be injected directly into the fluid that bathes the spinal column.
What is the treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
Treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is usually done in 3 stages. Stage 1 is remission induction. The aim of remission in duction 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.
Where is remission induction done?
Remission induction. The remission induction stage of treatment is done in hospital or at a specialist centre. You'll probably need regular blood transfusions because your blood will not contain enough healthy blood cells.
What are the side effects of methotrexate?
Common side effects of chemotherapy include: feeling and being sick. diarrhoea. loss of appetite. mouth ulcers. tiredness. skin rashes. infertility.
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.
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.
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.
What is the goal of remission induction?
Getting rid of ALL (remission induction) The aim of the induction phase is to destroy the leukaemia cells. This is called complete remission (CR). It means there is no sign of the leukaemia in your blood or bone marrow. The main treatment is chemotherapy.
What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials. You often have treatment for ALL as part of a clinical trial. Doctors and researchers do trials to make existing treatments better and develop new treatments. Find a clinical trial into ALL.
What is consolidation therapy?
Consolidation therapy is when the treatment is made stronger. The aim is to get rid of any leukaemia cells that might still be there and to stop it from coming back. You might have:
What is the purpose of the induction phase?
The aim of the induction phase is to destroy the leukaemia cells. This is called complete remission (CR). It means there is no sign of the leukaemia in your blood or bone marrow.
Chemotherapy treatment phases
Many different types of treatment are used for ALL, but chemotherapy is used in most regimens. Chemotherapy is usually broken into three phases.
Adult treatments
The best treatment for ALL depends on factors such as your age and overall health. Potential treatments include:
Treatments for children
Treatment for childhood leukemia usually takes 2 to 3 years. Children typical go through three rounds of chemotherapy:
Complications
Chemotherapy is an important part of ALL treatment but can cause side effects such as:
Success rates
Looking at the 5-year relative survival rate can give you a rough idea of the outlook of your cancer. The 5-year relative survival rate is a measurement of how many people diagnosed with the disease are alive 5 years later. However, many factors can affect your outlook.
Cost
ALL treatment can be expensive, but insurance often helps cover at least some of the cost. For example, Medicare Part A covers hospital stays and cancer treatment you receive at the hospital. Part B covers cancer-related treatments deemed medically necessary such as chemotherapy, doctor visits, and radiation.
A note about hope
Getting diagnosed with cancer is difficult, especially if your doctor tells you that your chances of survival are low. Watching your child, friend, or family member go through cancer treatment can also be incredibly difficult.
Steroid Pre Phase
Induction
Consolidation and Intensification
Maintenance
Specialist to consult
Clinical Trials
- The aim of the steroid pre phase is to destroy as many the leukaemia cells as possible. After treatment, your doctor calls it a complete remission (CR) if: 1. there is no sign of leukaemia in your bone marrow when looked at under a microscope 2. your blood count has returned to normal