ALM Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) symptoms vary among people and depend on the type of leukemia. It can cause anemia, bone and joint pain, and recurrent infections. In some cases, it may lead to a condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Acute leukemias develop when too many immature cells (called blasts) overtake the bone marrow and prevent normal blood-forming cells from growing. These cancerous cells can also spread to other parts of the body, including the liver and spleen. They can also affect the immune system, causing the body to lose its ability to fight infection.
Treatment for AML and ALL includes chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells. It is sometimes combined with radiation therapy or a stem cell transplant.
The treatment for AML and ALL depends on the type of leukemia and the age of the patient. Depending on the stage of the disease, doctors will prescribe different medications and treatments for each person.
In addition to the medications, some patients with AML and ALL will receive treatment that targets a specific genetic abnormality. These treatments can help to control the cancer and improve the chances of a cure.
At Penn Medicine, we use precision genomic diagnostics to tailor your treatment plan based on the type of leukemia and any genetic abnormalities. This can save you money and reduce your risk of side effects from treatments that aren’t tailored to you.
Your doctor will start by checking your blood for signs of leukemia and other problems. This includes a complete blood count, which counts the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and other blood cells in your body. It also checks your liver and kidney function. Your doctor may do other tests, such as blood chemistry tests or imaging scans to look for tumors.
If your doctor suspects leukemia despite normal blood tests, he or she may order a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, which involves removing a sample of the bone marrow from your hipbone to be tested. This is a safe and common procedure.
A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is another way that doctors can check for cancer cells in the brain and spinal cord. It involves a hollow needle that is inserted into your spine below the level where your spinal cord ends.
During the procedure, a small amount of cerebral spinal fluid is removed. The fluid bathes your brain and spinal cord, so it is important to test it for cancer cells.
The results of the spinal tap test will help your doctor decide what type of treatment is best for you. It also helps doctors determine if you are likely to respond to certain medications or other types of treatments.
Your doctor can also give you a special drug called azacitidine to stop your body from making too many new leukemia cells. This drug can also kill some of the abnormal leukemia cells that have been produced.
You may also need a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, which is when healthy stem cells are collected from a donor and infused into your blood. This process can cure your disease, but it can also cause serious side effects. Your doctor will discuss the risks of this treatment with you.
