T-cell leukemia is a cancer in which the body produces either too many or too few T-cells, the white blood cells that act in defenses of the immune system. There are several different types of T-cell leukemia and thus several different treatments.
Some doctors may recommend "watch and wait" therapy, meaning not to treat the cancer unless it advances.
Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are two common treatments for T-cell leukemia. Both aim to kill the caner cells but through different methods.
Chemotherapy uses drugs administered intravenously to kill the cancerous cells. It has many side effects including nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite and risk of infection. The side effects will vary from person to person and are somewhat dependent on the dosage amount. Radiation therapy carries similar side effects. This type of therapy kills cancer cells through x-rays and other high-energy particles. Side effects include fatigue, mild skin irritation, upset stomach and loose bowel movements. With both of these therapies, the side effects disappear shortly after treatment is complete.
Surgeries and Transplants
T-cell leukemia can also be treated through surgical means. Spleen removal is sometimes performed, as the spleen produces white blood cells. This is not an overly common treatment of the disease, however. Another surgical procedure is a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. This type of procedure is not very common with T-cell leukemia but is dependent on a variety of factors may be considered an option for some. The goal of this type of therapy is to replace the cancerous cells with the healthy donated cells. Transplants of this nature are done most often after a round of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Stem cells are found in the bone marrow and are normally what is being transplanted. Transplants of the actual bone marrow tissue are rare. There are two types of stem cell transplants, allogenic (ALLO) and autologous (AUTO) transplants.
An ALLO transplant means that the stem cells came from a genetically matched donor, either a close relative or a match from a nationwide registry of volunteer donors. An AUTO transplant means that the stem cells come from the patient. In AUTO transplants, healthy stem cells are harvested while the patient is in remission and then frozen until needed.
Other Treatments
Other treatments for T-cell Leukemia include immunotherapy and monoclonal antibodies as well as treatments in the clinical trial phase. Immunotherapy is the use of either natural or synthetic materials to boost the body's immune system to ward off the cancer. Monoclonal antibodies attack proteins on the surface of leukemic cells, which can kill the leukemic cell. Many doctors will suggest trying a new treatment for T-cell leukemia while it is still in the clinical trial stages. Whether to participate in this type of treatment is a decision that should be carefully considered by both patient and doctor.
Tags: T-cell leukemia, bone marrow, stem cells, AUTO transplants, blood cells, cancerous cells