Treatment for leukemia
Specific treatment for
leukemia will be determined by your child's physician based on:
- The type of leukemia
- Your child's age, overall health, and medical history
- The extent of the disease (the presence/number of leukemic cells in the
spinal fluid or testis)
- Your child's tolerance for certain medications, procedures, or therapies
- Expectations for the course of the disease
- Your opinion or preference
Treatment usually begins by addressing the presenting symptoms such as
anemia, bleeding, and/or infection. In addition, treatment for leukemia may
include (alone or in combination) the following:
- Chemotherapy
- Intrathecal medications/chemotherapy (during a spinal tap, medications are
inserted through a needle into the spinal cord into the area called the
subarachnoid space)
- Radiation therapy
- Bone marrow transplantation or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
- Biological therapy
- Medications (to prevent or treat damage to other systems of the body
caused by leukemia treatment)
- Medications (for nausea and side effects of treatment)
- Antibiotics (to prevent/treat infections)
- Continuous follow-up care (to determine response to treatment, detect
recurrent disease, and manage late effects of treatment)
What are the various stages of leukemia treatment?
There are various stages in the treatment of leukemia,
including the following:
- Induction. A combination of chemotherapy and/or radiation and
medications given to stop the process of abnormal cells being made in the bone
marrow. Remission is the goal in this stage of treatment. Remission means the
leukemia cells are no longer visible to the naked eye; they are still present
in the body and require continued treatment. This phase may last approximately
one month and can be repeated if the goal is not achieved.
- Intensification. Continued treatment even though leukemia cells may
not be visible. The leukemia cells may not be visible in a blood test or bone
marrow examination, but it is possible that the cells are still present in the
body.
- Maintenance. The stage that maintains leukemia-free bone marrow by
continuing less intense chemotherapy for a longer duration. This phase can
last months to several years. Regular visits to your child's physician are
required in order to determine response to treatment, detect any recurrent
disease, and manage any side effects of the treatment.
- Relapse. May occur even with aggressive therapy. Relapse is when
the bone marrow begins making abnormal cells again. Relapse can occur during
any of the stages of treatment, or may occur months or years after treatment
has ended.
Long-term outlook for a child with leukemia
Prognosis greatly depends on:
- The extent of the disease
- Disease response to treatment
- Genetics
- Age and overall health of the child
- Your child's tolerance of specific medications, procedures, or therapies.
new developments in treatment
As with any cancer, prognosis and long-term survival can vary greatly from
child to child. Prompt medical attention and aggressive therapy are important
for the best prognosis. Continuous follow-up care is essential for the child
diagnosed with leukemia.
Side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, as well as second malignancies,
can occur in survivors of leukemia. New methods are continually being discovered
to improve treatment and to decrease side effects of the treatment for the
disease.