Chemotherapy
Most patients with leukemia receive chemotherapy. This type of
cancer treatment uses drugs to kill leukemia cells. Depending on
the type of leukemia, the patient may receive a single drug or a
combination of two or more drugs.
People
with leukemia may receive chemotherapy in several different ways:
By mouth
By injection directly into a vein
(IV or intravenous)
Through a catheter (a thin,
flexible tube) placed in a large vein, often in the upper chest—A
catheter that stays in place is useful for patients who need many IV
treatments. The health care professional injects drugs into the catheter,
rather than directly into a vein. This method avoids the need for many
injections, which can cause discomfort and injure the veins and skin.
By injection directly into the cerebrospinal fluid—If the
pathologist finds leukemia cells in the fluid that fills the spaces in
and around the brain and spinal cord, the doctor may order
intrathecal chemotherapy.
The doctor injects drugs directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. This method is
used because drugs given by IV injection or taken by mouth often do not reach
cells in the brain and spinal cord. (A network of blood vessels filters blood
going to the brain and spinal cord. This
blood-brain barrier stops
drugs from reaching the brain.)
The patient may receive the drugs in two ways:
Injection into the spine:
The doctor injects the drugs into the lower part of the spinal column.
Ommaya reservoir:
Children and some adult patients receive intrathecal chemotherapy
through a special catheter called an Ommaya reservoir. The doctor
places the catheter under the
scalp. The doctor injects the
anticancer drugs into the catheter.
This method avoids the discomfort of injections into the spine.
Patients
receive chemotherapy in cycles: a
treatment period, then a recovery period, and then another treatment
period. 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.
Some
people with chronic myeloid leukemia receive a new type of treatment called
targeted therapy. Targeted therapy blocks the production of
leukemia cells but does not harm normal cells.
Gleevec, also called STI-571, is the first targeted therapy approved for
chronic myeloid leukemia.
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