Leukemia - Other Treatment

Other Treatment

The following other treatments may be used to treat leukemia:

• Radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation can be applied to one area or to the whole body. Sometimes it is used to treat leukemia that has spread to the brain and central nervous system or to prevent this spread. It also may be used to shrink swollen lymph nodes, or to prepare your body for a bone marrow transplant. In rare cases, total body radiation is used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
• Stem cell transplant. Transplants usually come from bone marrow or from blood. Some transplants are autologous, meaning the stem cells come from your own body. Some transplants are allogeneic, meaning the stem cells are donated by someone else. The goal of a transplant is to destroy all the cells in your bone marrow, including the leukemia cells, and replace them with new, normal cells.
• Clinical trials. Clinical trials investigate new ways to treat leukemia. Many leukemia patients are referred to clinical trials, and many trials have helped people to live longer. Ask your doctor whether you are a candidate for a trial. He or she may be able to answer your questions about a certain clinical trial and help you decide if it is right for you. For more information, see www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials/ or http://clinicaltrials.gov.

What to think about

Many cancer patients looking for a cure are willing to try alternative treatments. Check with your doctor before using any special diets, over-the-counter drugs, herbal products, or unusual treatment methods that you may hear about. Some of them can make your side effects worse or reduce the benefits of chemotherapy.