Leukemia Treatment

Chemotherapy, biological therapy, high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant, and surgery are a few of the treatment options for leukemia. People with acute leukemia often require treatment right away, while those with chronic leukemia who are not experiencing any symptoms may not need treatment immediately. Eating well during and after treatment is an important part of recovery, as is adhering to a follow-up care program.

Treatments for Leukemia

An Overview of Treating Leukemia

Leukemia treatment options vary based on the type of leukemia that a person has. Factors that may influence the treatment options include:

The type of leukemia (see Types of Leukemia)
The patient's age
Whether leukemia cells are present in the cerebrospinal fluid
Whether the leukemia has been treated before
Certain features of the leukemia cells
The patient's symptoms and general health.

In general, leukemia treatment options can include:

Chemotherapy
Other drug therapy
Biological therapy
High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant
Donor lymphocyte infusion
Surgery.

Choosing the most appropriate treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the family, and the healthcare team.

This article will look at the treatment options that apply to all types of leukemia. For more specific information about the treatments for different types of leukemia, visit the following eMedTV articles:

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