‘leukemia’

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Treatment by stage

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

treatment of ALL adultTreatment for adult ALL depends on the type of disease, patient age and condition in general. The patient may receive treatment that is considered standard based on its effectiveness in previous studies or may choose to take part in a clinical trial. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired.

For these reasons, clinical trials are designed to find better ways to treat cancer patients and are based on the latest information. They are conducting clinical trials in many countries for most stages of ALL.

Untreated
The treatment will probably be systemic chemotherapy. This could involve intrathecal chemotherapy alone or combined with either radiotherapy to the brain or high doses of systemic chemotherapy to treat or prevent the onset of leukemia in the brain.

Treatment also may include blood transfusions, antibiotics and instructions to keep body and teeth especially clean. New drugs are being evaluated in clinical trials.

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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Stages

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

ALL stages

There is no staging for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults. The type of treatment selected depends on whether the patient has received treatment before.

- Not treated
Untreated ALL means that it has been given no treatment except to relieve symptoms. There are too many white blood cells in the blood and bone marrow, and there may be other signs and symptoms of leukemia.

- In remission
Remission means that treatment has been given and that the number of white blood cells and other cells in the blood and bone marrow is normal. No signs or symptoms of leukemia.

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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults

Friday, January 15th, 2010

leukimiaThe

Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (also called acute lymphocytic leukemia or ALL) is a disease in which there are too many white blood cells and bone marrow. White blood cells, also known as lymphocytes, are responsible for fighting infections.

Lymphocytes derived from bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside large bones of the body, and other organs of the lymphatic system. The bone marrow makes red blood cells (which carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of the body), white blood cells (which fight infection) and platelets (which cause blood to clot).

Normally, the bone marrow makes cells called blasts, which are converted (at maturity) in several cell types that in turn have specific functions in the body. The substance that carries lymphocytes is lymph, a colorless, watery fluid found in lymphatic vessels. These, in turn, are part of the lymphatic system, which is made up of thin tubes that branch, like blood vessels to all body parts.

Along the network of vessels are groups of small organs called bean-shaped lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes in the underarm, pelvis, neck and abdomen. The spleen (an organ located in the upper abdomen that produces lymphocytes and filters old blood cells from the blood), thymus (a small organ beneath the breastbone) and tonsils (located in the throat) are also part of the system node.

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