Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Also called: ALL, Acute lymphoblastic leukemia Summary Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells. White blood cells help your body fight infection. Your blood cells form in your bone marrow. In leukemia, however, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These cells crowd out the healthy blood cells, making it hard for blood to do its work. In acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, there are too many of specific types of white blood cells called lymphocytes or lymphoblasts. ALL is the most common type of cancer in children. Possible risk factors for ALL include being male, being white, previous chemotherapy treatment, exposure to radiation, and for adults, being older than 70. Symptoms of ALL include: Weakness or feeling tired Fever Easy bruising or bleeding Bleeding under the skin Shortness of breath Weight loss or loss of appetite Pain in the bones or stomach Pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow diagnose ALL. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants, and targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells. Once the leukemia is in remission, you need additional treatment to make sure that it does not come back. NIH: National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute Start Here Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) National Marrow Donor Program Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) Guide: Information for Patients and Caregivers Leukemia & Lymphoma Society General Information about Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia National Cancer Institute What Is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)? American Cancer Society What You Need to Know about Leukemia National Cancer Institute Array Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) After chemotherapy – discharge Bone marrow transplant Bone marrow transplant – discharge Find an Expert American Cancer Society American Cancer Society Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Leukemia & Lymphoma Society National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute NCI Designated Cancer Centers National Cancer Institute Encyclopedia B and T cell screen Bone marrow biopsy Bone-marrow transplant – slideshow Cryoglobulins Fibrinopeptide A blood test T-cell count Treatments and Therapies Blood Transfusion Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Immunotherapy Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Integrative Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Therapies Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MedlinePlus: Bone Marrow Transplantation National Library of Medicine Targeted Therapy for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia American Cancer Society Treatment Option Overview (Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) National Cancer Institute Treatment Options for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia National Cancer Institute Understanding Side Effects of Drug Therapy Leukemia & Lymphoma Society NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Bone Marrow Transplants: “Another Possibility at Life” Cancer Strikes Out!/Definitions/ Glossary/ Common Types Statistics and Research Cancer Statistics: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) National Cancer Institute What Are the Key Statistics about Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society What’s New in Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in Adults Research? American Cancer Society Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Leukemia, Lymphoid National Institutes of Health Types of Treatment: Clinical Trials Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Related Issues Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer National Cancer Institute What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society Diagnosis and Tests How Is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Classified? American Cancer Society How Is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Diagnosed? American Cancer Society Lab and Imaging Tests Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MedlinePlus: Blood Count Tests National Library of Medicine Stages of Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia National Cancer Institute What Are Bone Marrow Tests? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Seniors Leukemia National Cancer Institute Journal Articles Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Patient Handouts Understanding Chemotherapy National Cancer Institute What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy National Cancer Institute Prevention and Risk Factors What Are the Risk Factors for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society
