Leukemia treatment

The Leukemia treatment video is the final video in the leukemia section. It tells the stages of the different types of treating leukemia.

Stage 1: Induction

 * Last about 4 wks.
 * Mission: Kill cancer cells.

Stage 2: Consolidation

 * Kill remaining cancer cells
 * Prevent the spreading of leukemia cells to the brain.

Stage 3: Maintenance

 * Lasts 2-3 yrs.
 * Low dose of chemotherapy
 * Just keeping it in check

Radiation
This is used to kill of cancer cells in the brain. This is not used for kids under 5 yrs. old because the brain is still developing in the first 5 years.

Bone marrow transplantation
As a last ditch effort, bone marrow is taken from a donor and is used to replace the patient's bone marrow.

Remission is not a cure. The leukemia cells can come back in remission. A cure means that they are gone forever.