Treatments for Leukemia
Treatments for Leukemia
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Leukemia
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Leukemia: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Leukemia may include:
Leukemia: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Leukemia:
Curable Types of Leukemia
Possibly curable types of Leukemia may include:
Leukemia: Research Doctors & Specialists
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
Drugs and Medications used to treat Leukemia:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Leukemia include:
- Cyclophosphamide
- Cycloblastin
- Cytoxan
- Neosar
- Procytox
- Prednisone - used as part of a combination therapy
- Apo-Prednisone - used as part of a combination therapy
- Aspred-C - used as part of a combination therapy
- Deltasone - used as part of a combination therapy
- Liquid Pred - used as part of a combination therapy
- Meticorten - used as part of a combination therapy
- Metreton - used as part of a combination therapy
- Novoprednisone - used as part of a combination therapy
- Orasone - used as part of a combination therapy
- Panasol-S - used as part of a combination therapy
- Paracort - used as part of a combination therapy
- Prednicen-M - used as part of a combination therapy
- Prednisone Intensol - used as part of a combination therapy
- SK-Prednisone - used as part of a combination therapy
- Sterapred - used as part of a combination therapy
- Sterapred-DS - used as part of a combination therapy
- Winpred - used as part of a combination therapy
- Cytarbine
- Cytosar-U
- Laracit
- Doxorubicin
- Adriamycin PFS
- Adriamycin RDF
- Rubex
- Adriamycin
- Adriblastina
- Adriblastina RD
- Caelyx
- Doxolem
- Doxotec
- Methotrexate
- Rheumatrex
- Trexal
- Apo-Methotrexate
- Ratio-Methotrexate
- Ledertrexate
- Texate
- Trixilem
- Vincristine
- Vincasar PFS
- Citomid
- Vintec
- Amsacrine
- Amsidyl
- Hydroxyurea
- Hydrea
- Zavedos
Latest treatments for Leukemia:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Leukemia:
Hospital statistics for Leukemia:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Leukemia:
- 0.37% (46,787) of hospital consultant episodes were for lymphoid leukaemia in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 97% of hospital consultant episodes for lymphoid leukaemia required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 62% of hospital consultant episodes for lymphoid leukaemia were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 38% of hospital consultant episodes for lymphoid leukaemia were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more hospital information...»
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Leukemia
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures
for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Leukemia:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital:
More general information, not necessarily in relation to Leukemia,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Medical news summaries about treatments for Leukemia:
The following medical news items
are relevant to treatment of Leukemia:
Discussion of treatments for Leukemia:
What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI (Excerpt)
Treatment for leukemia is complex. It varies with the type
of leukemia and is not the same for all patients. The doctor
plans the treatment to fit each patient's needs. The treatment
depends not only on the type of leukemia, but also on certain
features of the leukemia cells, the extent of the disease, and
whether the leukemia has been treated before. It also depends
on the patient's age, symptoms, and general health. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI (Excerpt)
Acute leukemia needs to be treated right away. The goal of
treatment is to bring about a remission .
Then, when there is no evidence of the disease, more therapy
may be given to prevent a relapse .
Many people with acute leukemia can be cured.
Chronic leukemia patients who do not have symptoms may not
require immediate treatment. However, they should have
frequent checkups so the doctor can see whether the disease is
progressing. When treatment is needed, it can often control
the disease and its symptoms. However, chronic leukemia can
seldom be cured. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI (Excerpt)
Most patients with leukemia are treated with chemotherapy .
Some also may have radiation
therapy and/or bone
marrow transplantation (BMT) or biological
therapy . In some cases, surgery to remove the spleen
(an operation called a splenectomy )
may be part of the treatment plan.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer
cells. Depending on the type of leukemia, patients may receive
a single drug or a combination of two or more drugs.
Some anticancer drugs can be taken by mouth. Most are given
by IV
injection (injected into a vein). Often, patients who need to
have many IV treatments receive the drugs through a catheter .
One end of this thin, flexible tube is placed in a large
vein, often in the upper chest. Drugs are injected into the
catheter, rather than directly into a vein, to avoid the
discomfort of repeated injections and injury to the skin.
Anticancer drugs given by IV injection or taken by mouth
enter the bloodstream and affect leukemia cells in most parts
of the body. However, the drugs often do not reach cells in
the central nervous system because they are stopped by the
blood-brain
barrier . This protective barrier is formed by a
network of blood vessels that filter blood going to the brain
and spinal cord. To reach leukemia cells in the central
nervous system, doctors use intrathecal
chemotherapy . In this type of treatment, anticancer
drugs are injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.
Intrathecal chemotherapy can be given in two ways. Some
patients receive the drugs by injection into the lower part of
the spinal column. Others, especially children, receive
intrathecal chemotherapy through a special type of catheter
called an Ommaya
reservoir . This device is placed under the scalp,
where it provides a pathway to the cerebrospinal fluid.
Injecting anticancer drugs into the reservoir instead of into
the spinal column can make intrathecal chemotherapy easier and
more comfortable for the patient.
Chemotherapy is given in cycles: a treatment period
followed by a recovery period, then another treatment period,
and so on. In some cases, the patient has chemotherapy as an
outpatient at the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at
home. However, depending on which drugs are given and the
patient's general health, a hospital stay may be
necessary. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI (Excerpt)
Radiation therapy is used along with chemotherapy
for some kinds of leukemia. Radiation therapy (also called
Radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and
stop them from growing. The radiation comes from a large
machine.
Radiation therapy for leukemia may be given in two ways.
For some patients, the doctor may direct the radiation to one
specific area of the body where there is a collection of
leukemia cells, such as the spleen or testicles. Other
patients may receive radiation that is directed to the whole
body. This type of radiation therapy, called total-body
irradiation, usually is given before a bone marrow
transplant. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI (Excerpt)
Bone marrow transplantation also may be used for
some patients. The patient's leukemia-producing bone marrow is
destroyed by high doses of drugs and radiation and is then
replaced by healthy bone marrow. The healthy bone marrow may
come from a donor, or it may be marrow that has been removed
from the patient and stored before the high-dose treatment. If
the patient's own bone marrow is used, it may first be treated
outside the body to remove leukemia cells. Patients who have a
bone marrow transplant usually stay in the hospital for
several weeks. Until the transplanted bone marrow begins to
produce enough white blood cells, patients have to be
carefully protected from infection. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI (Excerpt)
Biological therapy involves treatment with
substances that affect the immune
system's response to cancer. Interferon
is a form of biological therapy that is used against some
types of leukemia. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI (Excerpt)
Because leukemia patients get infections very easily, they
may receive antibiotics
and other drugs to help protect them from infections. They are
often advised to stay out of crowds and away from people with
colds and other infectious diseases. If an infection develops,
it can be serious and should be treated promptly. Patients may
need to stay in the hospital to treat the infection.
Anemia and bleeding are other problems that often require
supportive care. Transfusions
of red blood cells may be given to help reduce the shortness
of breath and fatigue that anemia can cause. Platelet
transfusions can help reduce the risk of serious bleeding.
Dental care also is very important. Leukemia and
chemotherapy can make the mouth sensitive, easily infected,
and likely to bleed. Doctors often advise patients to have a
complete dental exam before treatment begins. Dentists can
show patients how to keep their mouth clean and healthy during
treatment. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI)
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Book Excerpts: Treatment of Leukemia
Treatments of Leukemia: Online Medical Books
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Seizures, generalized tonic-clonic:
Emergency interventions
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
If you witness the beginning of the seizure, first check the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation, and ensure that the cause isn’t asystole or a blocked airway. Stay with the patient and ensure a patent airway. Focus your care on observing the seizure and protecting the patient. Place a towel under his head to prevent injury, loosen his clothing, and move any sharp or hard objects out of his way. Never try to restrain the patient or force a hard object into his mouth; you might chip his teeth or fracture his jaw. Only at the start of the ictal phase can you safely insert a soft object into his mouth.
If possible, turn the patient to one side during the seizure to allow secretions to drain and to prevent aspiration. Otherwise, do this at the end of the clonic phase when respirations return. (If they fail to return, check for airway obstruction and suction the patient if necessary. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intubation, and mechanical ventilation may be needed.)
Protect the patient after the seizure by providing a safe area in which he can rest. As he awakens, reassure and reorient him. Check his vital signs and neurologic status. Make sure to carefully record these data and your observations during the seizure.
If the seizure lasts longer than 4 minutes or if a second seizure occurs before full recovery from the first, suspect status epilepticus. Establish an airway, start an I.V. line, give supplemental oxygen, and begin cardiac monitoring. Draw blood for appropriate studies. Turn the patient on his side, with his head in a semi-dependent position, to drain secretions and prevent aspiration. Periodically turn him to the opposite side, check his arterial blood gas levels for hypoxemia, and administer oxygen by mask, increasing the flow rate if necessary. Administer diazepam or lorazepam by slow I.V. push, repeated two or three times at 10- to 20-minute intervals, to stop the seizures. If the patient isn’t known to have epilepsy, an I.V. bolus of dextrose 50% (50 ml) with thiamine (100 mg) may be ordered. Dextrose may stop the seizures if the patient has hypoglycemia. If his thiamine level is low, also give thiamine to guard against further damage.
If the patient is intubated, expect to insert a nasogastric (NG) tube to prevent vomiting and aspiration. Be aware that if the patient hasn’t been intubated, the NG tube itself can trigger the gag reflex and cause vomiting. Make sure to record your observations and the intervals between seizures.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Acute leukemia:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Systemic chemotherapy aims to eradicate leukemic cells and induce remission (less than 5% of blast cells in the marrow and peripheral blood are normal). Chemo-therapy varies:
❑Meningeal leukemia — intrathecal instillation of methotrexate or cytarabine with cranial radiation.
❑ALL — vincristine, prednisone, high-dose cytarabine, l-asparaginase, AMSA, and daunorubicin. Because there's a 40% risk of meningeal leukemia in ALL, intrathecal methotrexate or cytarabine is given. Radiation therapy is given for testicular infiltration.
❑AML — a combination of I.V. daunorubicin and cytarabine or, if these fail to induce remission, a combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, or methotrexate; high-dose cytarabine alone or with other drugs; amsacrine; etoposide; and 5-azacytidine and mitoxantrone. A subtype of AML called acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is treated with all-transretinoic acid (ATRA), which causes leukemic cells to mature into normal WBCs. ATRA has increased the cure rate of this type of AML. Arsenic trioxide has been approved for patients with APL who have failed ATRA as the usual chemotherapy.
❑Acute monoblastic leukemia — cytarabine and thioguanine with daunorubicin or doxorubicin.
Bone marrow transplant or a stem-cell transplant may be possible. Treatment also may include antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral drugs and granulocyte injections to control infection and transfusions of platelets to prevent bleeding and of red blood cells to prevent anemia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Systemic chemotherapy includes alkylating agents — usually chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, or fludarabine (singly or in combination) — and steroids (prednisone) when autoimmune hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia occurs.
An advance in the treatment of CLL has been the emergence of the humanized monoclonal antibodies rituximab and alemtuzumab. Alemtuzumab acts as an antibody against the surface of CLL cells and is used when fludarabine fails. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody, acts similiarly to alemtuzumab; studies are ongoing.
When chronic lymphocytic leukemia causes obstruction or organ impairment or enlargement, local radiation treatment can be used to reduce organ size. Allopurinol can be given to prevent hyperuricemia, a relatively uncommon finding.
Prognosis is poor if anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, bulky lymphadenopathy, and severe lymphocytosis are present.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Seizures, generalized tonic-clonic:
Emergency interventions
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
If you witness the beginning of the seizure, first check the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation, and ensure that the cause isn’t asystole or a blocked airway. Stay with the patient and ensure a patent airway. Focus your care on observing the seizure and protecting the patient. Place a towel under his head to prevent injury, loosen his clothing, and move any sharp or hard objects out of his way. Never try to restrain the patient or force a hard object into his mouth; you might chip his teeth or fracture his jaw. Only at the start of the ictal phase can you safely insert a soft object into his mouth.
If possible, turn the patient to one side during the seizure to allow secretions to drain and to prevent aspiration. Otherwise, do this at the end of the clonic phase when respirations return. (If they fail to return, check for airway obstruction and suction the patient if necessary. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intubation, and mechanical ventilation may be needed.)
Protect the patient after the seizure by providing a safe area in which he can rest. As he awakens, reassure and reorient him. Check his vital signs and neurologic status. Be sure to carefully record these data and your observations during the seizure.
If the seizure lasts longer than 4 minutes or if a second seizure occurs before full recovery from the first, suspect status epilepticus. Establish an airway, start an I.V. line, give supplemental oxygen, and begin cardiac monitoring. Draw blood for appropriate studies. Turn the patient on his side, with his head in a semi-dependent position, to drain secretions and prevent aspiration. Periodically turn him to the opposite side, check his arterial blood gas levels for hypoxemia, and administer oxygen by mask, increasing the flow rate if necessary. Administer diazepam or lorazepam by slow I.V. push, repeated two or three times at 10- to 20-minute intervals, to stop the seizures. If the patient isn’t known to have epilepsy, an I.V. bolus of dextrose 50% (50 ml) with thiamine (100 mg) may be ordered. Dextrose may stop the seizures if the patient has hypoglycemia. If his thiamine level is low, also give thiamine to guard against further damage.
If the patient is intubated, expect to insert a nasogastric (NG) tube to prevent vomiting and aspiration. Be aware that if the patient hasn’t been intubated, the NG tube itself can trigger the gag reflex and cause vomiting. Be sure to record your observations and the intervals between seizures.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Leukemia, acute:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Systemic chemotherapy aims to eradicate leukemic cells and induce remission. Chemotherapy varies according to the type of leukemia:
❑ meningeal leukemia — intrathecal instillation of methotrexate or cytarabine with cranial radiation is used.
❑ ALL — vincristine, prednisone, methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, and cyclophosphamide are used. Intrathecal therapy may be required. Radiation therapy is given for testicular infiltration.
❑ AML — a combination of I.V. chemotherapeutic drugs is used. In acute promyelocytic leukemia, a type of AML, all-trans retinoic acid is used to cause leukemia cells to mature into normal WBCs. It’s used in remission and increases the cure rate of AML. If this drug fails, arsenic trioxide may help.
❑ acute monoblastic leukemia — cytarabine and thioguanine with daunorubicin or doxorubicin is used.
A bone marrow or stem cell transplant may be possible. Treatment also may include antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral drugs and granulocyte injections to control infection. Platelet transfusions (to prevent bleeding) and red blood cell transfusions (to prevent anemia) may also be given.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Leukemia, chronic lymphocytic:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Systemic chemotherapy includes an alkylating drug, usually chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide, and sometimes a steroid (prednisone) when autoimmune hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia occurs.
When chronic lymphocytic leukemia causes obstruction or organ impairment or enlargement, local radiation treatment can be used to reduce organ size. Allopurinol can be given to prevent hyperuricemia, a relatively uncommon finding.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Leukemia, chronic granulocytic:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Aggressive chemotherapy has so far failed to produce remission in patients with CGL. Consequently, the goal of treatment in the chronic phase is to control leukocytosis and thrombocytosis. The most commonly used oral drugs are busulfan and hydroxyurea. Aspirin is commonly given to prevent stroke if the patient’s platelet count exceeds 1 million/µl.
Ancillary CGL treatments include:
❑ local splenic radiation or splenectomy to increase platelet count and decrease adverse effects related to splenomegaly
❑ leukapheresis (selective leukocyte removal) to reduce leukocyte count
❑ allopurinol to prevent secondary hyperuricemia or colchicine to relieve gout due to elevated serum uric acid levels
❑ prompt treatment of infections that may result from chemotherapyinduced bone marrow suppression.
During the acute phase of CGL, lymphoblastic or myeloblastic leukemia may develop. Treatment is similar to that for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Remission, if achieved, is commonly short lived. Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation may help in certain phases of CGL. Despite vigorous treatment, CGL usually progresses after the onset of the acute phase.
For more information on treatment during the acute phase, see “Leukemia, acute,” page 484.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Seizures, generalized tonic-clonic:
Nursing considerations
(Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series)
Closely monitor the patient for recurring seizure activity. Prepare him for a computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging and EEG. Monitor therapeutic drug levels. Provide a safe environment and institute seizure precautions. Continue to monitor the patient’s vital signs and respiratory status. Provide supplemental oxygen, as indicated.
Patient teaching
Advise the patient’s family to observe and record his seizure activity to ensure proper treatment. Emphasize the importance of strict compliance with the drug regimen and warn the patient about its possible adverse effects. Stress the importance of regular follow-up appointments for blood studies. Provide information on alcohol or drug cessation programs if the seizure was related to withdrawal or abuse.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series, 2007
Seizures, generalized tonic-clonic:
Patient counseling
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Advise the patient’s family to observe and record his seizure activity to ensure proper treatment. Emphasize the importance of strict compliance with the drug regimen, and warn the patient about adverse reactions. Also, stress the importance of regular follow-up appointments for blood studies.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Seizures, generalized tonic-clonic:
Nursing considerations
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
▪ Institute seizure precautions.
▪ Closely monitor the patient after the seizure for recurring seizure activity.
▪ Prepare him for a computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging and EEG.
▪ Administer anticonvulsants, as ordered, and monitor drug levels.
Patient teaching
▪ Explain the disorder and treatment plan.
▪ Teach the family how to observe and record seizure activity.
▪ Emphasize the importance of compliance with drug therapy and follow-up appointments.
▪ Tell the patient to carry medical identification.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
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