ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA - THE BASICS
WHAT IS ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA (AML)?
Acute myeloid leukemia, called "AML," is a type of blood cancer. AML is usually fast-growing and needs to be treated quickly.
Blood is made up of different types of cells. These cells are made in the center of your bones, in a part called the bone marrow. When people have AML, their bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells instead of normal blood cells. These abnormal blood cells grow out of control, get into the blood, and travel around the body. Sometimes, these cells collect in certain parts of the body.
When the bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells, it does not make the normal blood cells a person's body needs. This can cause symptoms.
Acute myeloid leukemia, called "AML," is a type of blood cancer. AML is usually fast-growing and needs to be treated quickly.
Blood is made up of different types of cells. These cells are made in the center of your bones, in a part called the bone marrow. When people have AML, their bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells instead of normal blood cells. These abnormal blood cells grow out of control, get into the blood, and travel around the body. Sometimes, these cells collect in certain parts of the body.
When the bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells, it does not make the normal blood cells a person's body needs. This can cause symptoms.
SYMPTOMS:
The most common symptoms of AML include:
DIAGNOSIS:
AML is discovered by drawing blood and by sampling the bone marrow. The cells in those samples can be looked at under a microscope to see if abnormal (cancer) cells are present.
There are different types of AML. The test results can show which type you have. The right treatment will depend a lot on your age and the type of AML.
TREATMENT:
Treatment for AML usually includes 2 parts.
The first part of treatment is called "induction of remission" and usually lasts about 4 weeks. During this part, people stay in the hospital and get chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the medical term for medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.
For people who are not well enough to get this much chemotherapy, there are other treatments, but they are generally not as effective.
Many people are in "remission" after the chemotherapy. This means that doctors do not see any abnormal blood cells in the blood or bone marrow. But even though doctors do not see any abnormal cells, there are still abnormal cells in the body. To kill these cells and prevent the AML from returning, people need more treatment.
The second part of treatment is called "post-remission therapy." During this time, people can have 1 or more of the following treatments:
The most common symptoms of AML include:
- Feeling very tired and weak
- Bleeding more easily than normal
- Getting sick from infections more easily than normal
DIAGNOSIS:
AML is discovered by drawing blood and by sampling the bone marrow. The cells in those samples can be looked at under a microscope to see if abnormal (cancer) cells are present.
There are different types of AML. The test results can show which type you have. The right treatment will depend a lot on your age and the type of AML.
TREATMENT:
Treatment for AML usually includes 2 parts.
The first part of treatment is called "induction of remission" and usually lasts about 4 weeks. During this part, people stay in the hospital and get chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the medical term for medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.
For people who are not well enough to get this much chemotherapy, there are other treatments, but they are generally not as effective.
Many people are in "remission" after the chemotherapy. This means that doctors do not see any abnormal blood cells in the blood or bone marrow. But even though doctors do not see any abnormal cells, there are still abnormal cells in the body. To kill these cells and prevent the AML from returning, people need more treatment.
The second part of treatment is called "post-remission therapy." During this time, people can have 1 or more of the following treatments:
- More chemotherapy – People might need to stay in the hospital for a few days each month to get chemotherapy. This treatment can last 3 or 4 months.
- Bone marrow transplant (also called "stem cell transplant") – This treatment replaces cells in the bone marrow that are killed by chemotherapy or radiation. These "donor" cells can come from different places, including:
- People who are related to the patient, and whose blood and tissue types match the patient
- People who are not related to the patient, but whose blood and tissue types match the patient
- People who are related to the patient, and whose blood and tissue types match the patient