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Leukemia
Treatment
Unlike
other types of cancer, leukemia isn't a solid tumor that can be
surgically removed. The source of the problem is really the bone marrow.
But you can't just remove bone marrow, because it produces three basic
types of cells — white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
Treatment
for leukemia is complex. It depends on many factors, including your age
and overall health, the type of leukemia you have and whether it has
spread to other parts of your body.
Therapies
used to fight leukemia include:
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Chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is the major form of treatment for leukemia. This treatment
uses chemical agents to kill leukemia cells. Depending on the type of
leukemia you have, you may receive a single drug or a combination of one
or more drugs. These drugs may come in a pill form, or they may be
injected directly into a vein.
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Biological therapy.
Also known as immunotherapy, biological therapy uses substances that
bolster your immune system's response to cancer.
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Radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy uses X-rays or other high-energy rays to damage
leukemia cells and stop their growth. You may receive radiation in one
specific area of your body where there is a collection of leukemia
cells, or you may receive radiation directed at your whole body.
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Bone marrow transplant.
This process replaces your leukemic bone marrow with leukemia-free
marrow. In this treatment, you receive high doses of chemotherapy or
radiation therapy, which destroys your leukemia-producing blood marrow.
This marrow is then replaced by bone marrow from a compatible donor. In
some cases, you may also be able to use your own bone marrow for
transplant (autologous transplant). This is possible if you go into
remission and then save healthy bone marrow for a future transplant, in
case the leukemia returns.
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Stem cell transplant.
Stem cell transplant is similar to bone marrow transplant except the
cells are collected from stem cells that circulate in the bloodstream
(peripheral blood), after using a medicine that causes cells to be
released from the bone marrow. The cells used for transplant can be your
own healthy cells (autologous transplant), or they can be collected from
a compatible donor (allogeneic transplant). This procedure is used more
frequently than bone marrow transplant because of shortened recovery
times and possible decreased risk of infection.
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Clinical trials.
Some people with leukemia choose to enroll in clinical trials to try out
experimental treatments or new combinations of known therapies.
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Supportive care.
No matter what kind of cancer therapy you choose, you'll likely need
medications to control pain and side effects.
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