Leukemia is a form of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. There are four main types of leukemia – acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Unlike other forms of cancer, leukemia does not develop any masses (tumors) at any place in the patient’s body. In this article, we will take a look at the main treatments for leukemia.

1. Chemotherapy
This is the most common form of treatment. Chemotherapy may be given as a pill or as injected directly into the patient’s system. The drugs used are designed to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy cycles are given to the patient with a few days gap in between each of them. The entire course of chemotherapy treatment received by a patient can vary between six months to a lifetime. The patient may be given just one or many drugs, depending on the extent and severity of their cancer.

2. Immunotherapy
This treatment for leukemia is sometimes referred to as biological therapy. In immunotherapy, the patient is given certain drugs that lend a boost to their immune system. This helps fight the infection in the body. Interleukins, interferon, and CAR-T cell therapy are common immunotherapies used by doctors for leukemia treatment.

3. Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is another treatment for leukemia where high beams of energy or X-rays are used to kill cancer cells. The treatment often precedes a stem cell transplant. The treatment may be delivered only on a particular part of the patient’s body, where there is a huge portion of cancerous cells. Alternatively, the beams may be delivered all over the body by a large machine.

4. Bone marrow transplant
This procedure is commonly known as a stem cell transplant. Here, the patient is given healthy stem cells taken from the bone marrow of a donor. These healthy cells help the patient fight the cancerous ones. Patients do not always need a donor; sometimes, they can use their own stem cells for this surgery. The bone marrow transplant is often done along with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These multiple lines of treatment will help properly treat cancer.

5. Targeted therapy
In this form of cancer treatment, drugs are administered to the patient to weaken specific harmful leukemia cells. Targeted therapy treatment might prevent the supply of blood to leukemia cells, causing them to starve. The treatment might also stop the cells from multiplying. Either way, the aim is to target and attack the harmful leukemia cells while sparing the patient’s healthy cells.