Acute myeloid leukemia

Alternative Names

Treatment

Treatment involves using medicines to kill the cancer cells. This is called chemotherapy. But chemotherapy kills normal cells, too. This may cause side effects such as excessive bleeding and an increased risk for infection. Your doctor may want to keep you away from other people to prevent infection.

Other treatments for AML may include:

• Antibiotics to treat infection
• Transfusions of platelets to control bleeding
• Red blood cell transfusions to fight anemia
• Bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplant

Most types of AML are treated the same way. However, a form of AML called acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is treated with a medicine called all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). This medicine helps leukemia cells grow into normal white blood cells.

The drug arsenic trioxide is approved for use in patients with APL who do not get better with ATRA or chemotherapy.

Support Groups

See also:

• Cancer support group
• Leukemia support group

Outlook (Prognosis)

When the signs and symptoms of AML go away, you are said to be in remission. Complete remission occurs in 70 - 80% of patients.

With treatment, younger patients with AML tend to do better than those who develop the disease at an older age. According to the American Cancer Society:

• About 33% of adults under age 65 with AML live at least 5 years after they are diagnosed with the cancer.
• The 5-year survival rate is much lower in older adults -- about 4% of persons over age 65 with AML live at least 5 years after diagnosis.

Experts say this is partly due to the fact that the body of a younger person may better tolerate strong chemotherapy medicines.

If the cancer does not come back (relapse) within 5 years of the diagnosis, you are considered permanently cured. Most of the time, the cancer returns within 2 years of diagnosis.

Possible Complications

Complications of AML and cancer treatment include severe infections and life-threatening bleeding. Sometimes, the cancer comes back (relapses) after treatment.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop symptoms of AML.

Call your health care provider if you have AML and have a fever that will not go away or other signs of infection.

References

American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2007. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 2007.

Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG. Clinical Oncology. 3rd ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2004.