Treatment
Treatment of leukaemia is mainly by chemotherapy. The most appropriate regimen
will be chosen according to the leukaemia type. Different protocols of chemotherapy
are used according to the characteristics of the cancerous white cells.
For treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the doctor will prescribe
a combination of anti-cancer drugs which are taken orally and by injection.
In addition to chemotherapy, some children may also require radiotherapy to
the head. The entire treatment will last 2 to 3 years.
The relapse rate of acute non-lymphoblastic or myeloid leukaemia (AML) with
chemotherapy is high. Hence, if the child has siblings whose HLA (antigens on
the surface of white cells) are identical with his, treatment by bone marrow
transplantation will give a better chance of cure.
Similarly, bone marrow transplantation for children with chronic myeloid leukaemia(CML)
offers a greater chance of cure. Currently, studies are being carried out on
the long term disease control by interferon injections.