Download Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML)

A CU TE M YELO BLAS T I C L E U K E MIA (AML)
What is AML?
AML is a cancer of the white blood cells. In most cases of AML, the body makes too many
white blood cells called myeloblasts. ese immature blood cells cannot ght infection as well
as normal white blood cells do. As more myeloblasts are made, they keep normal blood cells
from growing.
is can lead to infections, bleeding problems, and anemia (loss of red blood
cells) and threaten major organs, such as the brain and spinal cord, if not treated quickly.
Other names for AML
Acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myelogenous leukemia
Acute granulocytic leukemia
Who gets AML?
Adults over the age of 65 years are most likely to get AML. But it can
What happens with treatment?
AML must be treated quickly because the patient
type of leukemia may be treated with:
Chemotherapy — Uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Drugs that go into the bloodstream can reach
cancer cells in most parts of the body. Drugs that
that spread to the brain and spinal cord.
ect people at any age.
Radiation therapy — Uses high-energy x-rays
to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be
given to patients with high-risk leukemia to
treat cancer cells in the brain and spinal cord.
e treatment may also keep cancer cells from
spreading to those parts of the body.
Stem cell transplantation — Replaces blood
cells killed er high-dose chemotherapy and
radiation with stem cells that can make new
blood cells.
Immunotherapy — Uses drugs that kill cancer
cells directly or help the immune system kill
those cells.
about a remission. This means that:
No myeloblasts are seen in the blood or bone
marrow (the so tissue inside the bones where
blood cells
l aree made).
e body is making normal blood cells and
blood counts return to normal.
e body function returns to normal and health
and well-being are restored.
ere is no sign of AML in any other part of
the body.
A CU TE M YELO BLAS T I C L E U K E MIA (AML)
What happens first?
How to make it easier to get through treatment
Chemotherapy can injure any cell in the body that grows or divides
Phases of Chemotherapy for AML
Phase 1:
Induction
Getting high doses of drugs to kill cancer cells in the
blood and bone marrow and bring about a remission
Phase 2:
Postremission
Getting high doses of drugs to kill any cancer cells that
transplantation may also be done
Infection
Hair loss
Nausea
Mouth sores
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Patients who have certain types of cancer or are starting some kinds of
chemotherapy may also be at risk for tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). TLS
may damage the kidneys, heart, and other organs when large numbers of
high-risk patients are treated before they start chemotherapy.
Tips on how to cope with the side effects of treatment:
How do we know if the treatment is working?
Tests show how well treatment is working and check for any health problems.
Complete blood
count
Measures the number of each type of blood cell
Blood chemistry
tests
Check for abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the
body that could be signs of health problems
Bone marrow
aspiration
Shows if there are cancer cells in the bone marrow
Lumbar puncture
or spinal tap
Report signs of infection (such as a fever) and health concerns
to the doctor or nurse as soon as you notice them.
to the doctor or nurse.
Tell the medical team about all other
medicines the patient is taking.
Wher e to learn more
Learn how to care for the central line
(the tube in the chest through which
chemotherapy is given). And be sure
to ask the nurses for other self-care
tips. Nurses are great teachers.
ukemia &
Lymphoma Society
www.lls.org
800-955-4572
and take care of the teeth and gums.
Ask about medicines to control
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov/leukemia
800-4-CANCER (422-6237)
People Living With Cancer
www.plwc.org
888-651-3038
from getting worse.
Share feelings with others.
Patient
Counseling
Program
Provided as an educational service by
©2012 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
US.RAS.12.04.005
April 1012