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Chronic Leukemia Treatment
Some of the treatment options used for chronic leukemia can include chemotherapy, other drug therapy, biological therapy, watchful waiting, and radiation therapy. The specific choice of treatment(s) will vary depending on a number of factors, such as whether a person has chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
Chronic leukemia treatment options are based on the type of chronic leukemia (CLL or CML) that a person has and several other factors. These factors include:
- The chronic lymphocytic leukemia stage (or the phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia)
- Red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet blood counts
- Whether the liver, spleen, or lymph nodes are larger than normal
- Whether there are chronic leukemia symptoms (such as fever, chills, or weight loss)
- Whether the chronic leukemia has come back and how it responded to treatment the first time.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treatment options may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Other drug therapy
- Biological therapy
- High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant
- Donor lymphocyte infusion
- Surgery.
Treatment options for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can include:
- Watchful waiting
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Monoclonal antibody therapy.
Choosing the most appropriate chronic leukemia treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the family, and the healthcare team.
For more information on CML or CLL treatment options, click:
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD