LEUKAEMIA TREATMENTS

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplant (BMT) are used to treat leukaemia. There are different types of chemotherapy (called protocols) each involving a number of anticancer drugs given at the same time.

The choice of treatment and timing of BMT depends on a number of factors including the patient's age and general health, and the type and stage of the leukaemia.

BMT may be allogenic or autologous. Allogenic BMT requires a donor, often a relative, whose tissue type is a match for that of the patient. With autologous BMT some of the patient's own bone marrow is removed, treated with chemotherapeutic drugs to kill all the abnormal cells and frozen to be used later.

With both types of BMT the patient receives high doses of chemotherapy and radiation to destroy their bone marrow and any leukaemic cells in the body. The donor, or autologous bone marrow, is then injected into the patient. BMT requires specialised care and support to prevent infection or rejection of the bone marrow.