This article has been compiled by Chris Woollams from worldwide research and expert sources*
ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA (AML)
This must be read in conjunction with the whole of our general article on Leukaemia.
The CANCERactive Difference: Intelligent Information. Independent Voice. On this web site you will find more information about more treatment options (Complementary and Alternative, not just Orthodox), and on more ’possible contributory factors’ to the development and maintenance of your cancer, than on any other UK cancer web site. Some experts believe that approaching your cancer in this ’total’ way can increase an individual’s chances of survival by as much as 60 per cent.
The very latest research evidence from all over the world in our news section Cancer Watch supports all this.
We can do this because we are not hide-bound by vested interests, and so we can always put people first. We are not influenced by companies who seek to make financial gains from patients, we have no trustees working for, or sponsored directly or indirectly by such companies, our directors take no remuneration at all. This is our true independence, from which you benefit directly.
But this comes at a price – we rely on you, and people like you to support our work. 47,703 people visited our site in March 2007, viewing 11 pages on average. Every month we add 20 new pages to this site. If you feel an independent voice is essential in cancer, please, please help by making a donation. Every little helps.  |
TREATMENTS
Overall, the strategy is to control the disease in the bone marrow and the whole-body infection through high doses of drugs like daunorubicin (DNR), cytarabine (ara-C), idarubicin, thioguanine, etoposide, or mitoxantrone usually in combination.
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The hope is that such combination chemotherapy offers early remission and a lower risk of disease resistance.
Follow-up therapy may include:
Blood transfusions with red blood cells and platelets.
Since there is diminution in white cells because of the drug therapy (especially in granulocytes) the doctors may offer you white cell boosting drugs.
Supportive care – e.g. nutritional care, further antibiotics for patients with emerging microbial problems
Stem Cell Transplants: are in their infancy in the UK as a treatment option. The stem cells may come from a family member (an allogeneic transplant) or may be your own (an autologous transplant) which were collected and frozen until you need them. In the USA, newly diagnosed patients under 55 years of age may be considered for stem cell transplantation. Approximately half of newly diagnosed patients are in this age group and bone marrow transplants are available for about 15 per cent of them with 7 per cent of all patients will be cured. Obviously isolation from possible infection is essential in hospital including sterile food, filtered air and sterilisation of the microorganisms in the gut; a costly business, and usually only available privately.
Sometimes people have AML in their nervous systems in which case drugs are injected into areas of the spinal chord and around the brain. The drug usage may continue even when the patient is in remission. Sometimes (about 15 per cent of cases) AML patients do have a drug resistant disease.
Elderly (especially over age 75) patients have special treatment concerns. They may be less able to tolerate the septicemia (blood poisoning) associated with loss of granulocytes and they often have higher rates of myelodysplastic (’pre-leukemia’) syndrome (MDS). High dose chemo is unlikely to be tolerated by this group.
Support Therapies: Antibiotics, blood transfusions and even antibody infusions may be given
Other: All readers should read the General article on Leukaemia and note the pieces on Beneficial Bacteria, Can Candida Cause Cancer? and the use of helpful supplements like vitamin D, vitamin K and herbs like Astragalus, Echinacea and Goldenseal.
Building an Integrated Therapy Programme
Leukaemia is a whole-body disease and demands a whole body solution. There is no doubt that the Orthodox therapies do have their limitations, and no one is making any greater claims for Complementary or Alternative Therapies. What is important in Leukaemia is to build a programme of therapies that can give you the best chance of survival – the programme that can increase your personal odds of beating this disease in your own way.
In the main Leukaemia section – click the box on the left of this page – you will find a thorough overview listing
Information on the possible factors that might be maintaining your cancer so you can avoid them,
Information on diets and supplements
Information on building beneficial bacteria and controlling yeasts and fungal infections that are so common with leukaemia
Information on diet therapies
Information on complementary therapies from acupuncture to massage and Reike.
Information on Alternative Therapies
Information on orthodox therapies and drugs
There is so much you can do to avoid being yet another statistic. Please try to create a personal programme – some experts believe it can increase survival by up to 60 per cent.
More Information on More Therapies
On this web site you will find more information about more treatment options (Complementary and Alternative, not just Orthodox), and on more ’possible contributory factors’ to the development and maintenance of your cancer, than on any other UK cancer web site. Some experts believe that approaching your cancer in this ’total’ way can increase an individual’s chances of survival by as much as 60 per cent.
This is all supported by the very latest research evidence from all over the world in our news section Cancer Watch.
We can do this because we are not hide-bound by vested interests, and so we can always put people first. We are not influenced by companies who seek to make financial gains from patients, we have no trustees working for, or sponsored directly or indirectly by such companies, our directors take no remuneration at all. This is our true independence, from which you benefit directly.
But this independence comes at a price: We can only rely on you, and people like you, to support our work. 47,703 people visited our site in March 2007, viewing 11 pages on average. Every month we add 20 new pages to this site. The letters and e-mails of gratitude and praise tell us we really do make a difference.
If you feel an independent voice is essential in cancer, please, please help by making a donation. Every little helps.
Confused by it all??
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The CANCERactive Difference: Intelligent Information. Independent Voice.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
*Cancer (and its related illnesses) are very serious and very individual diseases. Readers must always consult directly with experts and specialists in the appropriate medical field before taking, or refraining from taking, any specific action.
This web site is intended to provide research-based information on cancer and its possible causes and therapies, so that you can make more informed decisions in consultation with those experts. Although our information comes from expert sources, and is most usually provided by Professors, scientists and Doctors, our easy-to-understand, jargon-free approach necessitates that journalists, not doctors, write the copy. For this reason, whilst the authors, management and staff of CANCERactive, icon, and Health Issues have made every effort to ensure its accuracy, we assume no responsibility for any error, any omission or any consequences of an error or omission. Readers must consult directly with their personal specialists and advisors, and we cannot be held responsible for any action, or inaction, taken by readers as a result of information contained on this web site, or in any of our publications. Any action taken or refrained from by a reader is taken entirely at the reader’s own instigation and, thus, own risk. |