Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) (2024)

FAQs

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)? ›

Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Previous chemotherapy and exposure to radiation may increase the risk of developing ALL.

Overall survival

With current treatment regimens, about 80%–90% of people with ALL will reach a complete remission (which means that leukemia cells cannot be seen in the bone marrow). About half of these people relapse. About 40%–50% of people with ALL reach a complete remission and do not relapse.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) happens when the body makes too many of a white blood cell called a lymphocyte. This is the most common type of leukemia in children. ALL is also called acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia. ALL can affect different types of lymphocytes called B-cells or T-cells.

Response rates to ALL treatment

In general, about 80% to 90% of adults will have complete remissions at some point during these treatments. This means leukemia cells can no longer be seen in their bone marrow. Unfortunately, about half of these patients relapse, so the overall cure rate is in the range of 40%.

What is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)? are made. ALL usually develops quickly over days or weeks. It is the most common type of leukaemia to affect children but can also affect adults.

Growth and Spread. ALL is often an aggressive cancer. It can involve lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and blood, skin, or the central nervous system.

Can you live 20 years with ALL leukemia? It is possible for a person who achieves complete remission from ALL leukemia to live for 20 years. The Canadian Cancer Society notes that 40–50% of people with ALL achieve complete remission and do not relapse.

Leukaemia signs and symptoms

The main symptoms include: tiredness and/or anaemia (pale complexion, weakness and breathlessness) repeated infections (mouth sores, sore throat, fevers, sweats, coughing, frequent passing of urine with irritation, infected cuts and scratches, and boils) increased bruising and bleeding.

In the United States, overall, 5-year survival among people diagnosed with leukemia is 65%.

ALL is not a common cancer, accounting for less than half of 1% of all cancers in the United States. The average person's lifetime risk of getting ALL is about 1 in 1,000. The risk is slightly higher in males than in females, and higher in White people than in African Americans.

What are the 5 stages of acute leukemia? ›

Some forms of chronic leukemia initially produce no early symptoms and can go unnoticed or undiagnosed for years.

It is slightly more common in boys than in girls. ALL is the least common type of leukemia among adults. About 1 in 3 cases of ALL occur in adults. Adults over age 50 have a higher risk for ALL than those between the ages of 20 and 50.

What are the signs and symptoms of end stage AML? As a person approaches the later stages of AML, they may experience pain, fatigue, appetite loss, difficulty focusing and speaking, muscle loss, weakness, low blood pressure, and breathing difficulty, among other symptoms.

While acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children is more common than other types of cancer, it has high cure rates. Survival rates are lower in adults, but they are improving. The 5-year relative survival rate for ALL is 68.8%. The statistics further break down to 90% in children and 30-40% in adults.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “Acute” means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal within a few months. "Lymphocytic" means it develops from early (immature) forms of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

Chemo treatment for ALL is typically divided into 3 phases: Induction, which is short and intensive, usually lasts about a month. Consolidation (intensification), which is also intensive, typically lasts for a few months. Maintenance (post-consolidation), which is less intensive, typically lasts for about 2 years.