Treating Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is cancer of the stem cells in bone marrow that produce white blood cells. Find out more about Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and how it's treated.
Related Articles
Leukemia - What is Leukemia - Leukemia OverviewBone Marrow Transplants - How They WorkBone Marrow Transplant - Bone Marrow Transplant Description - Bone Marrow Transplant Symptoms - Bone Marrow Transplant Prevention - Bone Marrow Transplant TreatmentAcute Myeloid Leukemia - Symptoms and Treatment of AML Video - About.comLeukemia - Leukemia Description - Leukemia Symptoms - Leukemia Prevention - Leukemia Treatment
Transcript: Treating Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Healthy Bone Marrow
Inside the hollow area of the bones is a spongy core called bone marrow. It is here, that stem cells are produced. Stem cells are immature cells that can develop into components of blood: red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the body; white blood cells or lymphocytes, which fight infection; and platelets, which helps blood to clot.What Is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)?
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the stem cells in the bone marrow that produce lymphocytes.The term "acute" means the cancer cells multiply rapidly, crowding out the normal cells in the blood and bone marrow.
In addition, as the number of unhealthy lymphocytes in the blood and bone marrow increases, fewer red blood cells and platelets are produced. If the bone marrow is unable to produce enough healthy lymphocytes, the patient will be unable to fight infections.
The leukemia cells can travel in the blood stream, or metastasize to other organs in the body where they can begin to form additional tumors.
Symptoms of ALL
Common symptoms of ALL include persistent fever, fatigue, bleeding, easy bruising, and swollen lymph nodes.Treating ALL
Chemotherapy is the first line of treatment, aimed at destroying the leukemia cells and allowing normal blood cells to grow. Radiation therapy, biologic therapy, and bone marrow transplantation may also be used if chemotherapy is unsuccessful.Who Does ALL Affect?
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is the most common cancer in young children. However, nearly 80 percent of all children with ALL can be cured.If You Are Diagnosed With ALL
Your doctor is the best source of information regarding treatment for your condition. It is important to discuss with your doctor which therapy, if any, is most appropriate for you.Copyrighted animations provided by Blausen Medical.