The four major types of leukemia treatment are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, and stem cell transplantation.

Chemotherapy involves the ingestion of cancer-fighting drugs.  The drugs can be ingested orally (by mouth), intravenously (through injections into the veins), with a catheter (a long tube inserted into a major vein – the drug is then injected into the catheter, which is used in place of many injections into smaller veins) or through direct injection to the cerebrospinal fluid (a method used if the cancer is directly affecting the brain and the spine).  Chemotherapy works by attacking the cells that reproduce rapidly within the body. Cancer spreads by rapid cell division, so cancer fighting drugs attack cancer cells before they can spread. Other cells that experience rapid cell division are the cells that make hair and the ones that line your stomach. This means that people undergoing chemotherapy often lose their hair and become very nauseous.

Radiation Therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill the cancer cells in a certain area of the body, such as the spleen, the brain, or another area where cancer cells are prevalent. Occasionally, the patient’s entire body undergoes radiation therapy, but this is usually only when the patient is also having a bone marrow transplant.

The side effects of radiation may include tiredness and dry, sore areas where radiation is directed. Radiation therapy may be used along with chemotherapy, which will increase the discomfort.

Biological Therapy is when certain biological substances are injected into the body through the veins. The substances help the body to fight the cancer by boosting the immune system. One type of biological therapy is called a monoclonal antibody, which is typically for patients with CLL. The antibody attaches itself to the cancer cell and helps the body fight it. Another type of biological therapy is called interferon, which is given to patients with CML.  Interferon slows the cancer cells from dividing and spreading.

Side effects of biological therapy can include flu-like symptoms and anemia, which is when a person’s blood does not have enough iron.

Stem Cell Transplantation means that the patient is given healthy cells from a donor. Usually, patients undergo stem cell transplantation when they have experienced high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. High doses of these types of treatments knock out good and bad cells, so stem cell transplantation is used to give a patient new, healthy, cells. Stem cells can be introduced into the bone marrow, the blood, or for a child with no donor, from the umbilical cord. Stem cells can come from either the patient or a donor. If the stem cell comes from the patient, then the stem cell is removed from the patient and all of the leukemia is killed within the sample. It is then frozen and preserved and introduced back into the patient’s body after his or her therapy is complete. If the stem cell is given by a donor, then it must be tested to insure that it matches the patient’s cell type.

Side effects of stem cell transplantation can include increased risk of infection and bleeding, largely due to the high levels of chemotherapy or radiation therapy prior to the transplant. The patient’s body may also reject the stem cells and develop graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) which weakens the body’s liver, skin, and digestive tract. GVHD can be mild or severe, and is sometimes treated with steroids.