The treatment is in two phases: induction therapy and continuation/maintenance therapy. The important treatment in induction therapy is to reduce the number of leukemia cells and the main aim is to stimulate a remission. The next phase of treatment commences after a patient goes into remission. In this the main act is to destroy any remaining cells and to lengthen the remission period as long as possible.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Surgery is usually not an option. Surgery is usually not an option because leukemia cells can spread to all the organs via the blood stream and the lymph vessels.
Radiation therapy is the use of x- rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
The replacement of sick bone marrow with healthy and fit bone marrow is called Bone marrow transplantation.
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