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Child Health A-Z

Leukemia Treatment

Specific treatment for leukemia will be determined by your child's physician based on:

  • Your child's age, overall health, and medical history
  • The extent of the disease
  • Your child's tolerance for certain medications, procedures, or therapies
  • Expectations for the course of the disease
  • Your opinion or preference
Treatment usually begins by addressing the presenting symptoms such as anemia, bleeding, and/or infection. In addition, treatment for leukemia may include (alone or in combination) the following:
  • Chemotherapy
  • Intrathecal medications/chemotherapy (medications are inserted through a needle into the spinal cord into the area called the subarachnoid space)
  • Radiation therapy
  • Bone marrow transplantation or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
  • Biological therapy
  • Medications (to prevent or treat damage to other systems of the body caused by leukemia treatment)
  • Medications (for nausea and side effects of treatment)
  • Blood transfusions (red blood cells, platelets)
  • Antibiotics (to prevent/treat infections)
  • Continuous follow-up care (to determine response to treatment, detect recurrent disease, and manage late effects of treatment)
Last Update
March 7, 2012
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Last Update
March 7, 2012
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