Leukemia Treatment
The goal of treatment is to achieve total healing by destroying cells leukemik so that normal cells can grow back in the bone marrow. Patients who undergo chemotherapy needs to be hospitalized for several days or weeks, depending on the response shown by the bone marrow.
Before the bone marrow returned to normal operation, the patient may require:
- Transfusion of red blood cells to overcome anemia
- Transfusion of platelets to control bleeding
- Antibiotics to fight infection.
Some combinations of chemotherapy drugs are often used and the dose was repeated for several days or several weeks. A combination consisting of prednisone by mouth (swallowed) and weekly doses of vincristine with anthracyclines or intravenous asparaginase.
To overcome leukemik cells in the brain, usually given an injection of methotrexate directly into the spinal fluid and radiation therapy to the brain.
Several weeks or several months after the initial intensive treatment to destroy the cell leukemik, given additional treatment (consolidation chemotherapy) to destroy the remnants of leukemik cells.
Treatment can last for 2-3 years.
Leukemik cells could re-emerge, often in the bone marrow, brain or testes. Reappearance leukemik cells in the bone marrow is a very serious problem. Patients must undergo chemotherapy again. Bone marrow transplant promising chance for recovery in these patients.
If leukemik cells reappeared in the brain, then the chemotherapy drugs are injected into the spinal fluid 1-2 times / week. Reappearance leukemik cells in the testes, usually treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
