How is acute lymphocytic leukemia treated?

General treatment information

Adult acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is not a single disease. It is really a group of related diseases, and patients with different subtypes of ALL may have different outlooks and responses to treatment.

After your cancer is diagnosed and staged, your cancer care team will discuss your treatment options with you. Choosing a treatment plan is an important decision, so it is important to take time and think about your choices. Treatment options for each patient are based on the leukemia subtype as well as certain prognostic features (described in "How is acute lymphocytic leukemia classified?").

The main treatment for ALL is chemotherapy (sometimes along with targeted therapy). Other treatments such as surgery and radiation therapy may be used in special circumstances.

The treatment of ALL typically lasts for about 2 years. It is often intense, especially in the first few months of treatment, so it is important that you are treated in a center that has experience with this disease.

You may have different types of doctors on your treatment team. The doctor in charge or your team will most likely be a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in treating blood diseases, including leukemia. Many other specialists may be involved in your care as well, including nurse practitioners, nurses, nutrition specialists, social workers, and other health professionals.

It is important to discuss your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. Treatment for ALL usually needs to start very soon after it is diagnosed, but if time permits, it is often a good idea to seek a second opinion. A second opinion can provide you with more information and help you feel confident about your chosen treatment plan.

The next few sections describe the types of treatments used for ALL. This is followed by a discussion of the typical treatment approach for ALL in adults.