Leukemia is a type of blood cancer, where a number of white blood cells in the body become cancerous i.e., start growing at an abnormal rate. Therefore, it is also sometimes referred to as blood cancer. The treatment plan suggested by the doctor will depend on the patient’s age, stage of cancer, and several other factors. Leukemia can be diagnosed with a simple blood test even before any symptoms appear. This helps in early detection and is very helpful in treating cancer effectively.

Read on to know about the different types of treatments used to treat leukemia.

• Chemotherapy
  One of the most commonly used treatments in any major type of cancer is chemotherapy. In this method, several chemicals are circulated throughout the body using an IV or central line. On the other hand, it can also be administered in the form of prescribed pills and tablets. These chemicals act on the cells affected by leukemia, killing the ones growing abnormally. Depending on the health and diagnosis of the patient, either a single method or a combination of different methods of administration of chemicals is used.
• Biological therapy
  In this type of treatment, living organisms or substances that come from living organisms are used to help the immune system recognize and destroy cancerous cells. The types of biological factors used for these treatments include antibodies, tumor vaccines, or cytokines.
• Targeted therapy
  Targeted therapy is a form of treatment that focuses on specific factors or characteristics of cells affected by leukemia. This may result in inhibited growth of these cells or restrict the blood supply needed by these cells. This treatment is known to cause less collateral damage to the body since it does not directly kill cells in the body. Targeted therapy is also known as molecularly targeted drugs, molecularly targeted therapies, or precision medicines.
• Radiation therapy
  Radiation therapy is another commonly used treatment for cancer patients. In this method, high energy radiations are projected upon parts of the body with a higher concentration of cancerous growths. The high energy radiation kills and destroys the cancer cells, or in this case, leukemia cells in the area.
• Stem cell transplant
  Stem cells are important cells in the body that have the potential to grow into any organ. These cells are found in the bone marrow of an individual. In stem cell therapy, the cells affected by leukemia and the normal bone marrow are exposed to high-energy radiations and destroyed. These cells are then replaced by healthy blood-forming stem cells that will help to rebuild the bone marrow. However, for the replacement to be successful, the donor and the patient must be an exact genetic match. This type of treatment is beneficial for younger patients under the age of 50.