The term leukemia (from the Greek leukos λευκός, "white"; αίμα aima, "blood") corresponds to a set of malignant neoplasm (cancer / cancer) affecting blood and have origin in the bone marrow.
Treatment
The doctor is the best person to describe the possible therapeutic choices. You can also talk to you about the expected results. Depending on the type and extent of disease, one can make chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, bone marrow transplantation or a combination of different treatments.
A person with acute leukemia must be treated immediately. The aim of treatment is the remission of the tumor. Then, when the signs and symptoms disappear, additional treatments may be administered to prevent relapse. This type of treatment is called maintenance therapy. Many people with acute leukemia can be cured.
A chronic leukemia who have no symptoms may not need immediate treatment. For some people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the doctor may suggest surveillance monitored. The medical team will monitor the health of the person, so that treatment can begin as soon as symptoms occur, or worsen. When it is necessary to treat chronic leukemia, often accomplished by controlling the disease and its symptoms. However, chronic leukemia can rarely be cured. Patients may make maintenance therapy to help maintain the tumor remission.
You may also want to talk with your doctor about the possibility of participating in a clinical trial, ie, a research study of new treatment methods. In the topic "Research On Cancer", you can find more information about clinical trials currently underway.
In addition to the treatment of leukemia, medications may be administered to control the pain and other symptoms of cancer and to alleviate possible side effects of the treatment. These treatments are designated as supportive treatments, for controlling symptoms or palliative care.
Chemotherapy
Most people with leukemia chemotherapy is chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Depending on the type of leukemia, can only be administered a drug, or a combination of two or more drugs.
People with leukemia chemotherapy can do several ways:
• Oral: tablets.
• Intravenous Administration: by injection, directly into a vein given: IV or intravenously.
• through a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) placed in a large vein, usually in the upper chest; which the catheter is placed, it is helpful to patients requiring IV many treatments. The health care professional injects drugs through the catheter. This method avoids the need for many injections, which may cause discomfort and damage to the veins and the skin of the person.
• Through an injection administered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. If tumor cells are detected in the liquid, the physician may want to make intrathecal chemotherapy, in this case, the drugs are administered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. This method is useful because, often, drugs administered by IV injection or per os (by mouth) do not reach the brain cells or spinal cord (a network of blood vessels, filters the blood going to the brain and spinal cord; this barrier prevents the drug reaching the brain).
These drugs may be administered in two ways:
the injection column: the physician injects the drug in the lower part of the spine.
The Ommaya reservoir: the kids, and some adults, receive intrathecal chemotherapy through a special catheter called an Ommaya reservoir. The doctor puts the reservoir under the scalp, and injects the anticancer drugs in the catheter. This method avoids the discomfort of injections spinal column.
The chemotherapy is generally administered for treatment cycles, repeated according to a specified regularity from situation to situation. The treatment may be done during one or more days; exists, then a rest period for recovery, which may be several days or even weeks, before the next treatment session.
Some people with leukemia are chemotherapy as an outpatient (hospital, doctor's office or at home), or are not admitted to hospital. However, you may need to stay in hospital inpatient settings, while doing chemotherapy.
Some people with chronic myeloid leukemia, are a new type of treatment, called targeted therapy. This treatment blocks the production of tumor cells, and does not affect normal cells.
Immunotherapy
In some types of leukemia, the person makes immunotherapy. Such treatment enhances the body's natural defenses against cancer. The treatment is administered by injection into a vein.
Some people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, receiving immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies. These substances bind to cancer cells, allowing the immune system to eliminate tumor cells in blood and bone marrow.
Furthermore, some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia receiving immunotherapy with a natural substance called interferon. This substance can slow the growth of cancer cells.
Before chemotherapy and immunotherapy, may want to put some questions to the doctor:
• Why do I need this treatment?
• What drugs will I be given?
• Should I go to the dentist before starting treatment?
• Who will treat me?
• Will I have to stay in hospital?
• How will we know the treatment is working?
• How long will this treatment?
• Will I have side effects during treatment? How long will it last? What can I do about these effects?
• There are long term effects caused by drugs?
• How often will I have to do medical examinations?
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. For most patients, a machine directs radiation to the spleen, brain or to other body parts, which have deposited the tumor cells. Some patients do radiation directed to the whole body, the total radiation to the body is generally performed before a bone marrow transplant. Radiotherapy is always administered in a hospital or clinic.
Before starting radiotherapy, may want to put some questions to the doctor:
• Why do I need this treatment?
• When the treatments begin? How often are administered? When they finish?
• How will I feel during treatment? Will I have side effects? How long will it last? What can I do about these effects?
• There are long term effects caused by immunotherapy?
• What can I do to take care of myself during treatment?
• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• Can I continue with my normal activities during treatment?
• How often will I have to do medical examinations?
Stem cell transplantation
Some individuals with leukemia, stem cell transplantation make. A stem cell transplant, allows treatment with higher doses of drugs, radiation or both. The high doses destroy both cancer cells and normal blood cells from bone marrow. Later, the person receives healthy stem cells, through a catheter which is placed into a large vein in the neck or chest area. From the transplanted stem cells, develop new blood cells.
Several types of stem cell transplants:
• Bone marrow transplantation: stem cells derived from bone marrow.
• peripheral stem cell transplantation: stem cells derived from peripheral blood.
• transplantation of umbilical cord blood: for a child without donor, the physician can use stem cells from umbilical cord blood. The cord blood is from a newborn baby. Sometimes the umbilical cord blood is frozen in order to be used later.
Stem cells may be the person himself or from a donor:
Auto-transplantation: This type of transplant uses stem cells from the person himself. The stem cells are removed, and the remaining cells may be treated to kill any cancer cells present. Stem cells are frozen and stored. After the person receiving high doses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, stem cells are thawed and stored "returned" to the person.
the Allogeneic: This type of transplant uses stem cells from a healthy donor. The donor may be a brother, a sister, a parent or a donor unfamiliar, but compatible. The physician makes specific blood tests, to ensure that the donor cells are compatible with the person.
the syngeneic transplantation: This type of transplant uses stem cells from twin (identical) healthy.
After a stem cell transplant, generally the person is admitted at the hospital for several weeks. In these cases, the medical team needs to protect the person from any infection until stem cells begin to produce enough white blood cells.
Before making a stem cell transplant, may want to put some questions to the doctor:
• What type of stem cell transplant will I have? If you need a donor, how do we find one?
• How long will I have to stay in hospital? What care will I need when leaving the hospital?
• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• What are the risks and side effects? What can we do about them?
• What changes have to do in my normal activities?
• What is my chance of a full recovery? How long will it last?
• How often will I have to do medical examinations?
Prevention
The causes of leukemia are not yet defined, but one suspects the association between certain factors with increased risk of developing specific types:
• Smoking: acute myeloid leukemia
• Radiation (radiotherapy, X-rays): acute and chronic myeloid leukemia and acute leukemia lifoide
• Down syndrome and other inherited diseases: acute leukemia
• Benzene (found in cigarette smoke, gasoline and widely used in the chemical industry): acute and chronic myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia
• Chemotherapy (some classes of drugs): acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Myelodysplastic syndrome and other blood disorders: acute myeloid leukemia
Treatment
The doctor is the best person to describe the possible therapeutic choices. You can also talk to you about the expected results. Depending on the type and extent of disease, one can make chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, bone marrow transplantation or a combination of different treatments.
A person with acute leukemia must be treated immediately. The aim of treatment is the remission of the tumor. Then, when the signs and symptoms disappear, additional treatments may be administered to prevent relapse. This type of treatment is called maintenance therapy. Many people with acute leukemia can be cured.
A chronic leukemia who have no symptoms may not need immediate treatment. For some people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the doctor may suggest surveillance monitored. The medical team will monitor the health of the person, so that treatment can begin as soon as symptoms occur, or worsen. When it is necessary to treat chronic leukemia, often accomplished by controlling the disease and its symptoms. However, chronic leukemia can rarely be cured. Patients may make maintenance therapy to help maintain the tumor remission.
You may also want to talk with your doctor about the possibility of participating in a clinical trial, ie, a research study of new treatment methods. In the topic "Research On Cancer", you can find more information about clinical trials currently underway.
In addition to the treatment of leukemia, medications may be administered to control the pain and other symptoms of cancer and to alleviate possible side effects of the treatment. These treatments are designated as supportive treatments, for controlling symptoms or palliative care.
Chemotherapy
Most people with leukemia chemotherapy is chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Depending on the type of leukemia, can only be administered a drug, or a combination of two or more drugs.
People with leukemia chemotherapy can do several ways:
• Oral: tablets.
• Intravenous Administration: by injection, directly into a vein given: IV or intravenously.
• through a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) placed in a large vein, usually in the upper chest; which the catheter is placed, it is helpful to patients requiring IV many treatments. The health care professional injects drugs through the catheter. This method avoids the need for many injections, which may cause discomfort and damage to the veins and the skin of the person.
• Through an injection administered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. If tumor cells are detected in the liquid, the physician may want to make intrathecal chemotherapy, in this case, the drugs are administered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. This method is useful because, often, drugs administered by IV injection or per os (by mouth) do not reach the brain cells or spinal cord (a network of blood vessels, filters the blood going to the brain and spinal cord; this barrier prevents the drug reaching the brain).
These drugs may be administered in two ways:
the injection column: the physician injects the drug in the lower part of the spine.
The Ommaya reservoir: the kids, and some adults, receive intrathecal chemotherapy through a special catheter called an Ommaya reservoir. The doctor puts the reservoir under the scalp, and injects the anticancer drugs in the catheter. This method avoids the discomfort of injections spinal column.
The chemotherapy is generally administered for treatment cycles, repeated according to a specified regularity from situation to situation. The treatment may be done during one or more days; exists, then a rest period for recovery, which may be several days or even weeks, before the next treatment session.
Some people with leukemia are chemotherapy as an outpatient (hospital, doctor's office or at home), or are not admitted to hospital. However, you may need to stay in hospital inpatient settings, while doing chemotherapy.
Some people with chronic myeloid leukemia, are a new type of treatment, called targeted therapy. This treatment blocks the production of tumor cells, and does not affect normal cells.
Immunotherapy
In some types of leukemia, the person makes immunotherapy. Such treatment enhances the body's natural defenses against cancer. The treatment is administered by injection into a vein.
Some people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, receiving immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies. These substances bind to cancer cells, allowing the immune system to eliminate tumor cells in blood and bone marrow.
Furthermore, some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia receiving immunotherapy with a natural substance called interferon. This substance can slow the growth of cancer cells.
Before chemotherapy and immunotherapy, may want to put some questions to the doctor:
• Why do I need this treatment?
• What drugs will I be given?
• Should I go to the dentist before starting treatment?
• Who will treat me?
• Will I have to stay in hospital?
• How will we know the treatment is working?
• How long will this treatment?
• Will I have side effects during treatment? How long will it last? What can I do about these effects?
• There are long term effects caused by drugs?
• How often will I have to do medical examinations?
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. For most patients, a machine directs radiation to the spleen, brain or to other body parts, which have deposited the tumor cells. Some patients do radiation directed to the whole body, the total radiation to the body is generally performed before a bone marrow transplant. Radiotherapy is always administered in a hospital or clinic.
Before starting radiotherapy, may want to put some questions to the doctor:
• Why do I need this treatment?
• When the treatments begin? How often are administered? When they finish?
• How will I feel during treatment? Will I have side effects? How long will it last? What can I do about these effects?
• There are long term effects caused by immunotherapy?
• What can I do to take care of myself during treatment?
• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• Can I continue with my normal activities during treatment?
• How often will I have to do medical examinations?
Stem cell transplantation
Some individuals with leukemia, stem cell transplantation make. A stem cell transplant, allows treatment with higher doses of drugs, radiation or both. The high doses destroy both cancer cells and normal blood cells from bone marrow. Later, the person receives healthy stem cells, through a catheter which is placed into a large vein in the neck or chest area. From the transplanted stem cells, develop new blood cells.
Several types of stem cell transplants:
• Bone marrow transplantation: stem cells derived from bone marrow.
• peripheral stem cell transplantation: stem cells derived from peripheral blood.
• transplantation of umbilical cord blood: for a child without donor, the physician can use stem cells from umbilical cord blood. The cord blood is from a newborn baby. Sometimes the umbilical cord blood is frozen in order to be used later.
Stem cells may be the person himself or from a donor:
Auto-transplantation: This type of transplant uses stem cells from the person himself. The stem cells are removed, and the remaining cells may be treated to kill any cancer cells present. Stem cells are frozen and stored. After the person receiving high doses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, stem cells are thawed and stored "returned" to the person.
the Allogeneic: This type of transplant uses stem cells from a healthy donor. The donor may be a brother, a sister, a parent or a donor unfamiliar, but compatible. The physician makes specific blood tests, to ensure that the donor cells are compatible with the person.
the syngeneic transplantation: This type of transplant uses stem cells from twin (identical) healthy.
After a stem cell transplant, generally the person is admitted at the hospital for several weeks. In these cases, the medical team needs to protect the person from any infection until stem cells begin to produce enough white blood cells.
Before making a stem cell transplant, may want to put some questions to the doctor:
• What type of stem cell transplant will I have? If you need a donor, how do we find one?
• How long will I have to stay in hospital? What care will I need when leaving the hospital?
• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• What are the risks and side effects? What can we do about them?
• What changes have to do in my normal activities?
• What is my chance of a full recovery? How long will it last?
• How often will I have to do medical examinations?
Prevention
The causes of leukemia are not yet defined, but one suspects the association between certain factors with increased risk of developing specific types:
• Smoking: acute myeloid leukemia
• Radiation (radiotherapy, X-rays): acute and chronic myeloid leukemia and acute leukemia lifoide
• Down syndrome and other inherited diseases: acute leukemia
• Benzene (found in cigarette smoke, gasoline and widely used in the chemical industry): acute and chronic myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia
• Chemotherapy (some classes of drugs): acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Myelodysplastic syndrome and other blood disorders: acute myeloid leukemia
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