LEUKEMIA EARLY DETECTION and TREATMENT

Early detection:Leukemia can be difficult to diagnose early because symptoms often resemble those of other, less serious conditions. When a physician does suspect leukemia, diagnosis can be made using blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy. Treatment:Chemotherapy is the most effective method of treating leukemia. Various anticancer drugs are used, either in combination or as single agents. Imatinib (Gleevec), nilotinib
(Tasigna), and dasatinib (Sprycel) are very effective drugs that are targeted at the genetic abnormality that is the hallmark of CML. Imatinib and dasatinib are also FDA-approved to treat a type of ALL with the same genetic defect. People diagnosed with CLL that is not progressing or causing symptoms may not require treatment. Recent clinical trials have shown that adults with AML who are treated with twice the conventional dose of daunorubicin experience higher and more rapid rates of remission. Antibiotics and transfusions of blood components are used as supportive treatments. Under appropriate conditions, stem cell transplantation may be useful in treating certain types of leukemia. source: American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2013. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2013.