Leukemia

How CenterWell Specialty Pharmacy® can help

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. It impacts both adults and children, and it’s the most common type of cancer found in patients under 20.¹ Read on to learn more about leukemia and how we can support you on the road ahead.

What is leukemia?²

Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming tissues. It starts in the bone marrow, which is a spongy tissue inside your bones where blood cells are made. Leukemia cells suppress healthy blood cells, making it harder for your body to fight infection, carry oxygen and stop bleeding.

Leukemia can be a serious disease, but it’s important to remember there are many people who’ve gone on to live healthy lives after following their healthcare team’s therapy and medication plan.

There are many types of leukemia, but they fall into 2 main categories:

Acute leukemia

Acute leukemia is fast-growing and can spread quickly if not treated.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is more common in children. ALL starts when there are changes in the genetic material in bone marrow cells.³

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is more common in adults. AML begins in the bone marrow and spreads quickly into the bloodstream, affecting other body parts.⁴

Chronic leukemia

Chronic leukemia is slow-growing and gets worse over time if not treated.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are more common in adults.

CLL starts when there are changes in the genetic material in bone marrow cells.⁵ CML attacks the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow, preventing them from fully maturing.⁶

Acute and chronic leukemia share a number of symptoms, the most common being fatigue. Since chronic leukemia is slow-growing, signs of the cancer can sometimes go undetected. Knowing all the signs of acute and chronic leukemia can lead to early detection and a better outcome:

Acute leukemia³,⁴

  • Weakness or tiredness
  • Aches in bones, joints or back
  • Fever without an obvious cause
  • Shortness of breath during normal physical activities
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Frequent infections
  • Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
  • Small rashes caused by bleeding

Chronic leukemia⁵,⁶

  • Weakness or tiredness
  • Aches in bones, joints or back
  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Weight loss
  • Feeling full after eating even a small amount of food

Acute and chronic leukemia can be treated by using a combination of therapies and medications. CenterWell Specialty Pharmacy offers medications to treat both types of leukemia, as directed by your prescriber. These medications target cancer cells in the blood and stop them from spreading.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses medications that are given by IV or taken by mouth. It is the primary form of treatment for all leukemia types.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses your own immune system to fight cancer by boosting or changing how the immune system works to attack leukemia cells.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses medications that focus on blocking specific parts of leukemia cells so the cancer is unable to grow.

Medications

  • Bosutinib (Bosulif®)
  • Glasdegib (Daurismo™)
  • Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®)
  • Enasidenib (Idhifa®)
  • Azacitidine (Onureg®)
  • Midostaurin (Rydapt®)
  • Asciminib (Scemblix®)
  • Dasatinib (Sprycel®)
  • Nilotinib (Tasigna®)
  • Tretinoin (Vesanoid®)

Specialists who work remotely to support you wherever you are

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Emotional support

Get 1-on-1 support from healthcare professionals who understand what you’re going through. We’ll listen to your concerns, answer your questions and help you manage any stress or anxiety.

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Financial assistance

Don’t stress the bills. We work with financial assistance programs like grants, foundations and manufacturers to help you get the care you need. We’ll also assist you with the application process.

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Clinical guidance

Receive personalized support regularly and instructions on how to take your meds. We’ll also work with your doctor to adjust your therapy if you’re experiencing side effects.

Sources

  1. “Childhood and Adolescent Blood Cancers,” Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, last accessed September 28, 2023.
  2. "Leukemia," Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, last accessed September 28, 2023.
  3. "Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia," Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, last accessed September 28, 2023.
  4. "Acute Myeloid Leukemia," Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, last accessed September 28, 2023.
  5. “Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia," Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, last accessed September 28, 2023.
  6. “Chronic Myeloid Leukemia," Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, last accessed September 28, 2023.

This information is not intended as a substitute for medical care or advice provided by your doctor or professional care provider. Only your doctor or professional care provider can diagnose and treat a medical condition.

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