AML Treatment Options

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, or AML, is a cancer of the blood primarily caused by benzene exposure. Benzene interferes with the healthy formation of blood cells in the bone marrow by damaging the cells’ DNA. These cells then circulate throughout the body in the blood stream and cause cancer in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, central nervous system and other organs. Left untreated, AML causes death.

Treatment Options for Benzene AML

Four main benzene AML treatment options exist. The success of these treatments depends on a variety of factors including:

• The age of the patient
• Preexisting conditions
• Infections that may occur during treatment as a result of low white blood cell counts.

 

1- Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is widely used as a benzene AML treatment option. Patients may receive the treatment in pill form or through an IV.
Benefits: Attacks and kills leukemia cells. After one to two courses, 60-65% of AML patients will achieve remission.
Drawbacks: Side effects such as low white blood cell counts and infections and/or intense nausea and vomiting may be too much for elderly or otherwise ill people to overcome.  Hair loss is also a common side effect.

2- Stem Cell Transplants

Stem cells are found in human bone marrow and in the umbilical cord blood of a newborn baby. A patient’s own or a donor’s healthy cells can be used.
Benefits: Stem cell transplants may offer shortened recovery time and reduced risk of infection. This benzene AML treatment option may be the best course of action for high-risk AML patients during their first remission.
Drawbacks: Elderly patients usually do not qualify for this procedure.

3- Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high energy particles, or rays such as x-rays, to damage leukemia cells and stop them from spreading.
Benefits: Radiation allows targeted treatment of the area of the body where a concentration of leukemia cells exists. This can result is significantly less side effects than chemotherapy.
Drawbacks: This therapy is only effective on leukemia contained in a specific area of the body. Leukemia that has spread throughout the blood stream and to other organs usually is not treatable with radiation therapy alone. Side effects may include fatigue and skin dryness or rash.

4- Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses vaccines to attack leukemia cells.
Benefits: Some clinical trials have shown this to be a promising therapy.
Drawbacks: The overall effectiveness of immunotherapy has not been conclusively proven. Most treatments are still in the development stage and may not be available to all patients with the disease.