5Specific Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children and the Outlook
Some treatment options for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia include:
– Radiation eliminates cancer cells with high-powered X-rays
– Chemotherapy is the main treatment option. It delivers drugs into the body to kill cancer cells.
– Targeted therapy
– Stem cell transplant
– Immunotherapy
Depending on the exact cause, affected parts, and health condition, a treatment plan can be designed for each child. [8]
In general, it has been shown that children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have good prognosis. According to estimations, the survival rate for children who are younger than 5 years old was around 94 percent between 2009 and 2015. The figure for children younger than 15 years old was around 92 percent. Approximately 90 percent of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia can be cured, meaning the disease will not recur in a period of 10 years after the treatment. Some genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, may increase the risk of leukemia relapses. [9]
