Treatment will depend on what type of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) you have and usually begins as soon as a diagnosis is made. Chemotherapy is the main treatment. Your doctor may recommend other treatments, such as a stem cell transplant, steroid therapy or targeted therapy, depending on how the ALL responds to chemotherapy.
Learn more about:
- Making treatment decisions
- Chemotherapy
- Stem cell treatment
- Targeted therapy
- Radiation therapy
- Steroids
- Palliative treatment
Asking about fertility
Treatment for ALL can cause temporary or permanent infertility. If you may want to have children in the future, ask your doctor for a referral to a fertility specialist before treatment starts. You may be able to store eggs, embryos, ovarian tissue or sperm for later use. For more on this, see Infertility.
More resources
A/Prof John Moore (Conjoint UNSW), Senior Staff Specialist Haematology, Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent’s Hospital; Glynda Blomson, Consumer; Kevin Bloom, Senior Social Worker, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Royal North Shore Hospital; Sharon Frazer, Consumer; Prof Angela Hong, Radiation Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, and Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney; Yvonne King, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Karen Maddock, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Haematology, Westmead Hospital.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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