Leukemia is the cancer that affects the blood-forming cells in our body. Most often, it is a cancer of the white blood cells, but leukemia has been known to start in other blood cell types too. There are several types of leukemia, based on whether it is acute or chronic or originated in the myeloid cells or lymphoid cells. The following treatments for leukemia are the most common and can help when the diagnosis is done on time.

Chemotherapy
One of the most common treatments for leukemia is chemotherapy. It is a medicine treatment used to kill leukemia cells. Depending upon the type of leukemia, you may receive a single medicine or a combination of them. The drugs may come in the form of a pill or injected directly into your vein. Chemotherapy can also damage noncancerous cells and cause severe side effects, including hair loss and nausea. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Biological therapy
One of the treatments for leukemia, biological therapy helps the immune system to recognize and attack the leukemia cells.

Targeted therapy
In targeted therapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors are used to attack the peculiar vulnerabilities within the cancer cells. Imatinib (Gleevec) stops the action of a protein within the leukemia cells of people having myelogenous leukemia. This helps control the disease. People with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) have a gene mutation that responds to imatinib. One study found that 90% of people treated with imatinib have a 5-year survival rate

Interferon therapy
This therapy slows and eventually stops the development and spread of leukemia cells. The medicine used in Interferon therapy is similar to substances that the immune system naturally produces. The therapy can cause severe side effects though.

Radiation therapy
In radiation therapy, X-rays or other high-energy beams are used to attack leukemia cells and stop their growth. A large machine is moved around you, and radiation is directed to precise points in your body. Radiation treatment can be concentrated in one part of the body, where a collection of leukemia cells or radiation can be used to treat the entire body. Radiation therapy is also used to prepare you for a stem cell transplant.

Stem cell transplant
One of the most common treatments for leukemia is stem cell transplant. In this procedure, the diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy bone marrow. Before a stem cell transplant, you are given high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy your diseased bone marrow. Then, you receive an infusion of blood-forming stem cells. The stem cells help to rebuild your bone marrow. Stem cells are either taken from a donor or your stem cells can be used for the process.

Surgery
Depending upon the type of leukemia, the spleen might have to be removed.

So, the above treatments for leukemia are most effective when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage . Also, the patient should be aware of each procedure’s side effects and consult the doctor about the best ways to cope with them.