leukemia symptoms : Chemotherapy
Patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) usually receive chemotherapy drugs as soon as possible after diagnosis. Chemotherapy uses strong cancer drugs to kill leukemia cells. This first stage of treatment is called induction therapy. The goal is to achieve remission (no signs of leukemia cells) and to restore normal blood production.
Common chemotherapy drugs given during induction therapy include daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and cytarabine. These cancer drugs kill the leukemia cells by stopping them from growing. Unfortunately, chemotherapy also kills normal cells, so AML patients receiving induction therapy may have side effects including nausea, tiredness, and higher risk of infections.
For most patients, induction therapy brings back normal blood cell production within a few weeks, and microscopic examinations of their blood and marrow samples show no signs of leukemia cells. When this happens, the disease is in remission. At this point, several long-term treatment choices may be considered. These include further chemotherapy or a blood stem cell transplant.
by Nielsen Technical Services
Common chemotherapy drugs given during induction therapy include daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and cytarabine. These cancer drugs kill the leukemia cells by stopping them from growing. Unfortunately, chemotherapy also kills normal cells, so AML patients receiving induction therapy may have side effects including nausea, tiredness, and higher risk of infections.
For most patients, induction therapy brings back normal blood cell production within a few weeks, and microscopic examinations of their blood and marrow samples show no signs of leukemia cells. When this happens, the disease is in remission. At this point, several long-term treatment choices may be considered. These include further chemotherapy or a blood stem cell transplant.
by Nielsen Technical Services
