Treatment for ALL is with intensive chemotherapy and steroids. You'll probably hear people talk about 'regimens' and 'protocols', which just means the treatment plan. Your doctors will devise a treatment plan based on what are called 'risk factors'. This includes how well you respond to the first lot of chemotherapy (called remission induction) as well as other tests.
Your ALL will be graded as standard risk or high risk. High risk means there's more chance of the leukaemia coming back, but it can still be treated just as effectively as standard risk.
ALL involves four phases of treatment:
These phases more or less follow on after each other, but some bits overlap. Everyone gets roughly the same treatment for remission induction, then treatment is planned according to whether your ALL is standard or high risk by looking at the initial level of leukaemia cells in the blood and also by your response to remission induction.
There are several different treatment plans (protocols) available, and your doctors will use the one that best suits your situation.
The treatment for ALL is pretty intensive and it's very likely that you'll experience some unpleasant side effects at various points during the whole thing. You'll probably be in hospital for most of your treatment where the staff will be able to help if things get tough.
chemotherapy side effects
There are some side effects that occur with most chemo drugs used in ALL. For example:
- lowered resistance to infections
- feeling sick
- hair loss
- bruising and bleeding
- sore mouth
- fertility
For information about side effects, see the chemo section, and the deal with it section for advice on how to cope with them.
supportive care
Because induction and consolidation can be tough, the medical staff are aware of all the possible side effects. They can offer what is called 'supportive care'. This helps you to cope with the side effects and stay strong enough to have the treatment. It includes anticipating problems like sickness or a sore mouth, for example, and giving medicines to help prevent these. The term 'prophylactic' is used to describe preventative treatment.
how will I feel?
Chemo affects everyone differently, but it's likely that you'll feel rough at various times and better at other times. You might also feel emotional and depressed or irritable. Some people find that it really helps to talk to someone close or the activity co-ordinator, specialist nurse or a counsellor. Have a look in the deal with it section for things that might help.
You'll probably find that your energy levels will vary and some days will be better than others. You'll need to take time off from school or college which can make you feel 'left behind'.
Being in hospital for long periods can mean that you feel cut off from the 'real' world and maybe a bit isolated or lonely. There are many things that can help with this have a look in the hospital section for advice on how to cope with this.
