A leukemia diagnosis can feel overwhelming, and you may not be sure what comes next. At HealthPartners Cancer Care, we’re here to help you get the answers and treatment you need.

We take a whole-person approach to cancer care, understanding its impact both physically and emotionally. We provide award-winning cancer care for adults of all ages, including access to groundbreaking clinical trials as part of your personalized treatment plan.

Leukemia is a group of blood cancers, and each type can behave differently and respond to treatment in its own way. Because of this, you may need different types of testing so we can create the best treatment plan for you.

Diagnosis usually starts with a simple blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). This test looks at the levels of different cells and proteins in your blood. Depending on your results, you may need bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, a procedure that involves taking a sample of bone marrow, which is then examined under a microscope. Additional tests may also be done to identify the exact type of leukemia you have, how it’s behaving and how advanced it may be.

Testing can also confirm if your symptoms are caused by a different type of blood cancer – such as lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms – and what kind of treatment would be best for that condition.

There are many different subtypes of leukemias, and we treat them all.

Acute leukemias involve immature blood cells that grow quickly, so you’ll usually start treatment right away.

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) –This type starts in lymphoid cells in the bone marrow. It’s most often seen in children, but it can affect adults as well.
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – AML begins in myeloid cells (early cells that typically develop into different types of blood cells). It’s one of the most common leukemias in adults, but it can occur at any age.
• Less common acute leukemias – We also treat rarer forms of acute leukemia, including subtypes such as acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

Chronic leukemias typically affect more mature blood cells and tend to develop more slowly. In some cases, you may not need treatment right away.

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) – CLL starts in bone marrow cells and usually develops more slowly than other leukemias. It’s the most common chronic leukemia in adults.
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) – CML develops in myeloid cells, often slowly at first before becoming more active over time. It usually affects adults.
• Less common chronic leukemias – We also treat rarer chronic leukemias, including hairy cell leukemia, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and large granular lymphocytic leukemia.

Leukemia can start at different stages of blood cell development. Our leukemia doctors understand how these differences affect the way that the disease behaves and how it’s best treated. Your personalized treatment plan will be based on your specific type and stage of leukemia, along with your preferences. Common treatment options for leukemia include:

Chemotherapy uses strong medications that travel through the bloodstream to kill or slow the growth of fast-growing cells, including cancer cells.

Targeted therapy works by focusing on specific features in cancer cells to keep them from growing, while avoiding more healthy cells. Targeted therapy is commonly used for CML and CLL, and for some other types of leukemia when treatment can be matched to specific changes in the cancer cells.

Immunotherapy (biotherapy) is a newer treatment that uses your immune system to fight some types of leukemia, especially those that start in bone marrow cells.

Some types of immunotherapy use lab-made antibodies to find and destroy cancer cells. Bispecific therapies work by linking immune cells directly to leukemia cells, helping the body better target and kill cancer. Another type, CAR T-cell therapy, involves modifying a patient’s own immune cells in a lab so they can recognize and attack leukemia more effectively.

A stem cell (bone marrow) transplant uses stem cells to rebuild healthy bone marrow. The cells are usually collected from blood, either from a patient or a donor. This treatment is most often used for AML and ALL, especially for patients who may need additional treatment to keep the leukemia from coming back.

Acute leukemia is usually treated in phases. Each phase has a specific goal, building on the previous phase to reduce cancer and help prevent it from returning.

The goal of induction therapy is to destroy as many acute leukemia cells as possible and bring the disease under control. This is the first and most intensive phase of treatment, typically lasting several weeks. High-dose chemotherapy is usually the main treatment at this stage, but some people may also get targeted therapy or immunotherapy depending on their type of acute leukemia.

Consolidation therapy starts once leukemia is in remission, and the signs and symptoms of the cancer are greatly reduced or no longer detectable. The purpose of this phase is to eliminate remaining leukemia cells that may not be visible, but could cause the disease to return. Consolidation therapy helps lower the risk of relapse and often includes additional chemotherapy, targeted therapy and, in some cases, a stem cell transplant.

Maintenance therapy focuses on keeping leukemia from coming back over the long term. This phase uses lower-intensity treatments given over months or even years. It is commonly used for ALL and in certain situations for AML.

In certain types of acute leukemia, there is a higher risk that cancer cells can spread to the brain or spinal cord. If this is a possibility, we’ll take steps to reduce this risk. Treatment may include intrathecal chemotherapy, which is delivered directly into the spinal fluid. This is most often used for ALL and some high-risk AML cases.

If leukemia comes back or doesn’t respond to treatment, we’ll look at other options that may work, such as different chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or a stem cell transplant. These treatments focus on bringing the disease back under control and working toward another remission.

Chronic leukemias are often managed over time rather than treated in set phases. Each step is personalized based on how the leukemia is behaving and how the symptoms are impacting your daily life. Your treatment plan may include:

In some cases, treatment isn’t needed right away. Instead, we carefully monitor the leukemia with regular checkups, blood tests and imaging, if needed. This approach helps you avoid unnecessary treatment while ensuring we act quickly if the disease begins to change.

If the leukemia begins to progress or causes symptoms, we’ll recommend treatment. Options may include targeted therapy, immunotherapy or chemotherapy. The goal is to control the disease and help you feel your best.

Many chronic leukemias are managed with long-term treatment. Some therapies are needed on an ongoing basis, while others are used for a set period of time.

If the leukemia changes or stops responding to a treatment, we’ll explore other options. This may include switching medications, newer therapies or being part of a cancer clinical trial. Our goal is to stay one step ahead and continue finding the approach that works best for you.

If you’re looking for expert, compassionate leukemia care, HealthPartners Cancer Care is here for you. Our team of board-certified oncologists, hematologists and other specialists work together to help you through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. With state-of-the-art cancer centers, leading specialists, ongoing research and clinical trials, we’re here to support you every step of the way.