Acute lymphocytic leukaemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. The treatment generally includes chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplants, and clinical trials.
ALL occurs when a bone marrow cell develops errors in its DNA. As a result, the bone marrow produces an abnormal amount of immature cells that develop into leukemic white blood cells called lymphoblasts. Unable to function correctly, these abnormal cells build up and crowd out healthy cells.
While it’s not clear what causes the DNA mutations that lead to ALL, doctors have found that most cases are not inherited.
Adults older than 60 years tend to experience more complications from the treatments as they typically have a more severe prognosis. The treatment regimens can sometimes cause side effects that might require the patient to take other drugs to prevent or treat those side effects as well.
The treatment cost for ALL will depend on the duration of your treatment. Although the treatment is typically very successful—with remission rates of 75 to 90 per cent—it can be a long road. It often takes about two to three years, although the first three to six months of treatment are the most intense.
