ALL

[Melza27]

Just wondering if anyone is experiencing acute lymphoblastic leukemia as my mum was diagnosed last February and went out of remission 14 days after going in to remission what happens next as they have had to put her sct on hold in light of new results

[Ricky234]

Hello melza27 thank you for posting at this worrying time for you. not being an ALL patient I cannot share personal knowledge or experience in this area, however there are reasons to remain positive. I believe that if conditioning therapies preparing for SCT are not working then doctors do have other treatment alternatives; from listening to other ALL patients I believe that there are now antibody therapies that are achieving durable remissions following treatment. not being a medic I cannot really comment more. try to stay positive, I am sure the community nurse advisers may chime in and other ALL patients or carers also.

Have you had any feedback from your mum or her doctors on what course of action they will take? I am not sure if you are in the UK. here are a few links to UK supportive resources and information booklets for carers and patients. leukaemiacare.org.uk/how-wi... leukaemiacare.org.uk/how-wi...

[LCNurse2 Moderator LeukaemiaCARE Nurse]

Hi Malza27,

Thanks for your post. Sorry to hear about your mum, it must be a worrying time for you. There are several different treatment options that may be available whilst the SCT is on hold. She could have a different combination of chemotherapy drugs.

There are also targeted therapies which are drugs that are designed to identify and attack cancer cells, while doing as little damage as possible to normal cells. These are sometimes given in combination with chemotherapy.

Monoclonal antibodies may also be an option. Monoclonal antibodies target specific proteins on the surface of the cells. They destroy the leukaemia cells by triggering the body’s immune system to attack the leukaemia cells and can cause the cells to kill themselves. Using one or a combination of these drugs are all options for achieving a remission.

[Melza27 in reply to LCNurse2]

Thank you ever so much for your time she has had intensive chemo once before she has 55 on blood results and 10 on her platelets results she is having blood transfusions at the moment to try get her strong enough for the next stage I have read online that the chances of her getting into a 2nd remission are slim because of her age which she is nearly 55 is this true its gutting as she was only 10 days away from her sct

[LCNurse2 Moderator LeukaemiaCARE Nurse]

Hopefully she will feel better after the blood transfusions and regain some strength to move forward for more treatment.