Is leukemia curable? – Your Health

Leukemia is a type of cancer that, in some cases, has a cure, especially when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage and treated quickly.

However, when leukemia is diagnosed late, and in cases where the person’s body is already very weakened, curing the disease can be more difficult.

Leukemia treatment is carried out according to the type and stage of the disease, the person’s age and general health, and may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or bone marrow transplant, for example. See more about leukemia treatment.

Main treatments

Leukemia treatments vary depending on the type and stage of the disease, including:

1. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments recommended for leukemia and aims to promote the elimination of cancer cells, helping to fight cancer.

This treatment can be indicated for all types of leukemia and consists of administering medications in the form of tablets or injections, which can be applied directly into the vein. See more details on how chemotherapy is performed.

2. Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy aims to eliminate or reduce the growth of cancer cells, being carried out by applying radiation, which is emitted by a device and directed to a region that has a cluster of cancer cells.

Radiotherapy is generally indicated when there is a risk of cancer spreading to other areas of the body, and can be done in combination with chemotherapy. Find out more about radiotherapy.

3. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that strengthens the immune system, helping to fight cancer cells.

Immunotherapy may be indicated when other treatments are not effective or when available treatments cause serious or intense side effects, putting the person’s life at risk, for example. Understand how immunotherapy works.

4. Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that aims to use medicines that detect and fight cancer cells, while preserving healthy cells.

Generally, target therapy is carried out using medications in the form of tablets, but it can also be carried out through injections into the vein, which may be indicated in cases of myeloid or lymphoid leukemia, for example.

5. Marrow transplant

Bone marrow transplantation is one of the forms of treatment for leukemia and consists of introducing, through a catheter, which is a thin tube, bone marrow cells from a healthy donor into the person’s bloodstream.

This type of treatment stimulates the production of healthy defense cells that can fight cancer. See how a bone marrow transplant is performed.

6. Car T-Cell Gene Therapy.

Car T-Cell gene therapy is a treatment that consists of using genes to alter the immune system, favoring the recognition and elimination of tumor cells. See how Car T-Cell gene therapy is performed.

Currently, Car T-Cell gene therapy may be indicated for people with B acute lymphocytic leukemia (B ALL).