Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Cont.)

Risk Groups for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Once childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia has been diagnosed, tests are done to determine if the cancer has spread to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), the testicles, or other parts of the body. The extent or spread of cancer is usually described as stages. For childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, risk groups are used instead of stages.
 
Risk groups for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia include:
 
  • Standard (low) risk
  • High risk
  • Recurrent.
 

Current Treatment for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Different types of treatment are available for patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some treatments are being tested in clinical trials.
 
Current childhood ALL treatment options include:
 
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.
 
There are also three phases of childhood ALL treatment. These phases include:
 
  • Induction therapy
  • Consolidation/intensification therapy
  • Maintenance therapy.
 
Choosing the most appropriate childhood ALL treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the family, and the healthcare team.
 
(Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Continued: Page 5)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD