Leukemia: What is It, What are the Treatments
Leukemia is cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.
Many types of leukemia exist. Some forms of leukemia are more common in children. Other forms of leukemia occur mostly in adults.
Leukemia usually involves the white blood cells. Your white blood cells are potent infection fighters — they normally grow and divide in an orderly way, as your body needs them. But in people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces an excessive amount of abnormal white blood cells, which don’t function properly.
Treatment for leukemia can be complex — depending on the type of leukemia and other factors. But there are strategies and resources that can help make your treatment successful.
Treatment for leukemia depends on various factors including the type of leukemia, its subtype, the patient’s age and overall health, and other considerations. Here are some common treatments:
- Chemotherapy: This is the primary treatment for most types of leukemia. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill leukemia cells or to stop them from dividing. It can be administered orally, intravenously, or through injections.
- Targeted Therapy: Targeted drugs attack specific vulnerabilities within cancer cells. Examples include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and monoclonal antibodies like rituximab for certain types of lymphocytic leukemia.
- Radiation Therapy: This treatment uses high-energy rays (such as X-rays or protons) to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. It’s often used to prepare for a stem cell transplant or to treat leukemia that has spread to the brain or other parts of the body.
- Stem Cell Transplant: Also known as a bone marrow transplant, this procedure involves replacing diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells. These stem cells can come from a donor (allogeneic transplant) or from the patient themselves (autologous transplant).
- Immunotherapy: This treatment boosts the body’s immune system to help it fight cancer. Examples include checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab, which block proteins that prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells.
- Biological Therapy (or Immunotherapy): This treatment uses substances made by the body or in a laboratory to help the body’s immune system fight cancer. Examples include cytokines (such as interferon) and monoclonal antibodies (such as rituximab).
- Clinical Trials: Clinical trials test new treatments or combinations of treatments. Participating in a clinical trial may give patients access to promising new therapies.
- Supportive Care: This includes treatments to manage symptoms and side effects of leukemia and its treatment, such as antibiotics for infections, blood transfusions to replace blood cells, and medications to manage pain or nausea.
The specific treatment plan for an individual patient will be determined by their healthcare team based on factors such as the type and stage of leukemia, the patient’s overall health, and their preferences. It’s important for patients to discuss treatment options thoroughly with their doctors to make informed decisions about their care.
