Leukemia

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Leukemia Home Page
Types Of Leukemia
Conventional Leukemia Treatment Options
Complementary and Alternative
Leukemia Treatment Options
Our Facilities

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we know how difficult a leukemia diagnosis can be. If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with leukemia, you will probably have an overwhelming number of questions. From learning what your next steps should be, to finding out where you can turn for the support and treatment necessary to help you overcome leukemia, CTCA can help. The first step is in learning the treatment options available to you. With this information, you can then begin to determine which treatment center suits you best.

At CTCA, we know that leukemia affects different people in different ways, and that your fight against leukemia is unique to you. That’s why we work with you in providing integrated leukemia treatment options that encompass conventional and complementary therapies to address your specific needs. Further, the compassionate and dedicated professionals at CTCA will be by your side, adhering to the Mother Standard® of care. This means you will get the same care we would want our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers to have.

To take the first step and begin exploring your leukemia treatment options, we invite you to contact CTCA at 1-800-615-3055 today. Our Oncology Information Specialists are available any time, day or night, to offer you information regarding the conventional and complementary leukemia treatment options we offer at CTCA. For online assistance, you can discuss your leukemia treatment options via our chat function.

The Types of Leukemia

There are two classification of leukemia: myelogenous leukemia and lymphocytic. These terms refer to the particular cell type involved. Further, each classification can be defined as acute or chronic. Because of this, there are four major types of leukemia:

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The symptoms of these types of leukemia will differ, as will the leukemia treatment options best suited to you. As part of your personalized leukemia treatment plan, CTCA offers several conventional treatment options.

Conventional Leukemia Treatment Options

There are a number of different conventional treatment options used to treat leukemia. The type of treatment you receive will depend on a number of factors, including your particular type of leukemia and the current condition of your overall health, among others. While you may have heard of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and biotherapy/immunotherapy, let’s take a moment to look at some specific leukemia treatments that fall under these categories.

Fractionated Dose Chemotherapy. This type of chemotherapy differs from traditional chemotherapy in that, rather than receiving one large dose, patients receive several smaller doses over a period of three-to-five days. As a leukemia treatment, fractionated dose chemotherapy may help reduce the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy, while simultaneously providing more sustained treatment on cancer cells.

External Beam Radiation. As a leukemia treatment, external beam radiation is a treatment option that focuses a beam of radiation on the cancerous organs or tissues, isolating your cancer and reducing any affects radiation may have on non-cancerous parts of the body. This type of leukemia treatment usually takes place five days a week for six-to-eight weeks.

Tomotherapy HI-ART. TomoTherapy^® Highly Integrated Adaptive Radiotherapy (HI-ART) is a sophisticated leukemia treatment that utilizes CT scan technology to determine the exact shape and location of the tumor or tissue that needs to be treated. Then, laser beams deliver precisely aimed radiation from 360 degrees. This leukemia treatment is beneficial in treating hard-to-reach areas while leaving healthy tissue unaffected.

Hematopoietic Growth Factors. There are a number of ways CTCA can help you use your body’s own immune system to help fight leukemia. One way we do this is through Hematopoietic Growth Factors (HGFs), which help promote blood cell growth. As a leukemia treatment, HGF can promote red blood cell growth and maturation. Further HGFs are used to encourage the proliferation of bone marrow.

Interferons. As a naturally-produced substance in your body, interferons fight disease and infection. When your body recognizes foreign or diseased cells, like those caused by leukemia, it sends interferons out to fight those cells. As a form of biotherapy, administering manufactured forms of interferons have shown positive results in some cancer patients.

Monoclonal Antibodies. All cells in your body, including cancer cells, contain antigens. As part of our immune systems, antibodies in our system are designed to find foreign antigens and kill them. In monoclonal antibody treatment, we sample your cancer cells to determine the shape of antigen it presents. Then, monoclonal antibodies, that match the cancerous antigen and target it, are created. This type of leukemia treatment carries an added dimension as monoclonal antibodies can be created to carry chemotherapeutic agents to cancer cells, further compounding treatment efforts.

Complementary and Alternative Leukemia Treatment Options

In addition to a diverse range of conventional leukemia treatments, CTCA also provides complementary and alternative leukemia therapies that may further aid in whole-body healing. At CTCA, your cancer treatment team will work together to explore options that fit your individual needs in your effort to overcome leukemia. Some options include:

Our Facilities

Each of our hospitals is guided by the sole purpose to help you beat cancer. We work with you to help empower you in your fight. And we stand by your side, offering not only state-of-the-art leukemia treatments, but the compassionate and caring support you need for whole-body health. And, we do this all under one roof. You can learn more about our facilities by visiting our Hospital Locations Page.

Learn More About CTCA

For additional information regarding the ways CTCA can help you in your fight against cancer, please contact us at 1-800-615-3055 or through our online chat option. One of our Oncology Information Specialists will gladly discuss the leukemia treatment options available to you at CTCA.