Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is acute myeloid leukemia? " пїЅ Acute myeloid leukemia, called "AML, " пїЅ is a type of blood cancer. AML is usually fast-growing and needs to be treated quickly. пїЅ пїЅ

Blood is made up of different types of cells. These cells are made in the middle of your bones, in a part called the bone marrow. When people have AML, their bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells instead of normal blood cells. These abnormal blood cells grow out of control, get into the blood, and travel around the body. Sometimes, these cells collect in certain parts of the body. пїЅ пїЅ

When the bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells, it does not make the normal blood cells a persons body needs. This can cause symptoms. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of AML? " пїЅ The most common symptoms of AML include: пїЅ пїЅ

Feeling very tired and weak
Bleeding more easily than normal
Getting sick from infections more easily than normal

Is there a test for AML? " пїЅ Yes. Your doctor or nurse will talk with you and do an exam. He or she will also do: пїЅ пїЅ

Blood tests
Bone marrow biopsy " пїЅ A doctor will take a very small sample of the bone marrow. Then another doctor will look at the cells under a microscope to see if abnormal (cancer) cells are present.

There are different types of AML. The test results can show which type you have. The right treatment for you will depend a lot on your age and the type of AML you have. пїЅ пїЅ

How is AML treated? " пїЅ Treatment for AML usually includes 2 parts. пїЅ пїЅ

The first part of treatment is called "induction of remission " пїЅ and lasts about 4 weeks. During this part, people stay in the hospital and get chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the term doctors use to describe a group of medicines that kill cancer cells. пїЅ пїЅ

Many people are in "remission " пїЅ after the chemotherapy. This means that doctors do not see any abnormal blood cells in the blood or bone marrow. But even though doctors do not see any abnormal cells, there are still abnormal cells in the body. To kill these cells and prevent the AML from returning, people need more treatment. пїЅ пїЅ

The second part of treatment is called "post-remission therapy. " пїЅ During this time, people can have 1 or more of the following treatments: пїЅ пїЅ

More chemotherapy " пїЅ People stay in the hospital for a few days each month to get chemotherapy. This treatment can last 3 or 4 months.
Radiation therapy " пїЅ Radiation kills cancer cells.
Bone marrow transplant " пїЅ This treatment replaces cells in the bone marrow that are killed by chemotherapy or radiation. These "donor " пїЅ cells can come from different places, including:People who are related to you, and whose blood matches yoursPeople who are not related to you, but whose blood matches yoursBlood (that matches yours) from a newborn baby's umbilical cordYou " пїЅ Your cells can be taken out of your bone marrow before your treatment is completed and put back in after you have completed chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

What happens after treatment? " пїЅ After treatment, your doctor will check you every so often to see if the cancer comes back. Regular follow-ups include talking with your doctor, exams, and blood tests. Sometimes, your doctor will also do a bone marrow biopsy. пїЅ пїЅ

What happens if the AML comes back? " пїЅ If the AML comes back, you might have more chemotherapy, radiation, or bone marrow transplantation. пїЅ пїЅ

What else should I do? " пїЅ It's important to follow all your doctor's instructions about visits and tests. It's also important to talk to your doctor about any side effects or problems you have during treatment. пїЅ пїЅ

Getting treated for AML involves making many choices, such as what treatment to have. пїЅ пїЅ

Always let your doctors and nurses know how you feel about a treatment. Any time you are offered a treatment, ask: пїЅ пїЅ

What are the benefits of this treatment? Is it likely to help me live longer? Will it reduce or prevent symptoms?
What are the downsides to this treatment?
Are there other options besides this treatment?
What happens if I do not have this treatment?

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 15790 Version 5.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

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Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

The Basics

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