VCU Massey Cancer Center

Treatment for leukemia

Specific treatment for leukemia will be determined by your child’s physician based on:

• Your child’s age, overall health and medical history.
• Extent of the disease.
• Your child’s tolerance for certain medications, procedures or therapies.
• Expectations for the course of the disease.
• Your opinion or preference.

Treatment usually begins by addressing the presenting symptoms such as anemia, bleeding and/or infection. In addition, treatment for leukemia may include (alone or in combination) the following methods:

• Chemotherapy.
• Intrathecal medications/chemotherapy – medications are inserted through a needle into the spinal cord into the area called the subarachnoid space.
• Radiation therapy.
• Bone marrow transplantation.
• Biological therapy.
• Medications – to prevent or treat damage to other systems of the body caused by leukemia treatment.
• Medications – for nausea and side effects of treatment.
• Blood transfusions – red blood cells, platelets.]
• Antibiotics – to prevent/treat infections.
• Continuous follow-up care – to determine response to treatment, detect recurrent disease and manage late effects of treatment.