preview

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Research Paper

Good Essays

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is a scary disease. The term “acute” means the disease can quickly spread and progress quickly and can prove fatal in months if left untreated. “Lymphocytic” simply means that it develops from immature forms of lymphocytes. Also known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or ALL for short, it is a type of cancer that starts from the early form of white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow. ALL is the most common form of cancer in children, though adults can get it as well. For children, treatment results in a good chance of a cure. Adults have a significantly smaller chance of a cure with ALL. ALL generally invades the blood very quickly and has the potential to spread to other body parts such as the spleen, …show more content…

The first stage is called induction therapy. With induction therapy, the goal is to kill as many leukemic cells as possible in the blood and bone marrow. Restoring normal blood cell production is also a goal with induction therapy. Consolidation therapy is the second phase. Also called post-remission therapy, the goal is to destroy any remaining leukemia in the body. The third phase is maintenance therapy. The goal of maintenance therapy is to prevent leukemia cells from re-growing. Often, this phase is given in low doses over a period of time, most likely over a few years. Sometimes prevention therapy is given during the phases of treatment. Prevention therapy is given to kill any leukemia in the central nervous system. During prevention, chemotherapy is injected directly into the fluids surrounding the spinal cord. As a whole, the phases of treatment are given over a span of 2-3 years, depending on each …show more content…

Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, and targeted drug therapy are all forms of treatment for ALL. Chemotherapy is typically used as induction therapy for kids and adults. Chemotherapy can also be used in consolidation and maintenance therapies. Chemotherapy is given in a variety of ways. It can be given orally as a pill or liquid. It can be given intravenously by infusion into a vein. A cream on the skin can be given. Chemotherapy can also be given by direct placement either via lumbar puncture or a device placed just under the scalp. Radiation therapy uses high-powered beams, such as x-rays, to kill the cancer cells. Radiation therapy is usually recommended when the cancer has spread to the central nervous

Get Access