The Main Stages of Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Essay Example

Childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a complex disease that is characterized by the formation of a significant number of abnormal blood cells that are produced by bone marrow. This disease is diagnosed in approximately 500 new children annually. AML is a complicated disease and requires early diagnosis and treatment to achieve the best possible prognosis and chance of recovery. Treatment of AML aims to destroy the leukemia cells and allow the bone marrow to work normally again by driving the body to a condition that is called remission. Remission refers to the stage where there is no sign of leukemia and the bone marrow is normally working again (Firat et al 75). To a better understanding of AML treatment, this essay will illustrate the various methods and treatments of treating AML diseases such as chemotherapy, trans-retinoic acid, and radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy is the main and the most efficient method of treatment used. The method uses anticancer drugs to destroy leukemia cells. The anticancer drugs work by disrupting cell division of leukemia cells (Firat et al 75). The chemotherapy drugs are usually given in combination with other drugs. Once the anticancer drugs are in the bloodstream, they can reach the leukemia cells wherever they are in the body. Chemotherapy is usually given as several session of treatment. Each session last five to ten days and it is followed by three to four week of rest that allow the patient’s body to recover from the side effects. Most patients will require three to four cycles and the treatment can last for about six months. There are different types of chemotherapy such as induction chemotherapy, consolidation chemotherapy, high dose chemotherapy, and low dose chemotherapy. Furthermore, during chemotherapy a patient also needs supportive care to treat symptom caused by lack of normal blood cells.

The second method used to treat AML is called all Trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). ATRA is based on a natural substance vitamin A and is given to patients with a type of AML that is called acute promylocytic leukemia (APL) (Amirghofran et al 171). The drug can induce complete remission in almost all patients through in vivo differentiation of APL blast. However, it cannot eliminate the leukemia clone and to be effective the drug is given in combination with chemotherapy.  ATRA is available as a capsule that is taken by mouth or with food.

The third AML treatment method is called radiotherapy. The method treats leukemia by using high-energy rays to destroy leukemia cells (Amirghofran et al 172). Radiotherapy kills off all the bone marrow, including the leukemia cells. Depending on the patient condition, they may have radiotherapy twice a day for three to four days or as single treatment. One session of the treatment may take twenty to thirty minutes. After the treatment, a doctor may transplant stem cells into the patient’s body. One important thing to note is that Radiotherapy is not often used to treat AML. The few times when Radiotherapy may be used to treat leukemia includes; when leukemia has spread to the brain and spinal fluids or when radiation to the whole body is necessary.

It is conclusive that, AML treatment typically requires chemotherapy as a primary form of therapy to reduce the number of cancer cells in the blood, along with a course of supportive care to induce normal hematopoietic cell production (Amirghofran et al 174). Normally, doctors consider whether chemotherapy alone is likely to cure leukemia, or other methods will be used. In addition, it is necessary to be mindful of possible complications that could hamper recoveries, such as infections, organ dysfunction, and hemorrhage ((Firat et al 75). For patients who have been diagnosed and require further treatment, specialty care is necessary to identify the most feasible alternatives and treatments that will have a lasting impact on patients and enable them to respond to the disease more effectively.

Work Cited

Amirghofran, Zahra, et al. “The Influence Of Bcl-2 And Myeloid Antigen Expression On Response To Therapy In Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.” Archives Of Iranian Medicine (AIM) 14.3 (2011): 170-174. Academic Search Complete. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

Firat, H., et al. “Determination Of Myeloid Antigen Expression On Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Cells: Discrepancies Using Different Monoclonal Antibody Clones.” Leukemia & Lymphoma 42.1/2 (2001): 75. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.