What to Ask Your Doctor It is important to have honest and open communication with your cancer doctor. Be prepared!

Write down the questions that you may have before your visit with the doctor. It may be helpful to have someone with you when you meet with the doctor taking notes, so you can listen to what the doctor says. Consider these questions What kind of acute leukemia do I have! What leukemia treatment choices do I have! Which cancer treatment do you recommend, and why! What side effects are there to the treatments that you recommend! What can I do to help reduce the side effects I may have from the chemotherapy! What are the chances that my leukemia will come back once I am in remission!

What is the outlook for my survival! "or a list of Cancer #octors$ %ncologists in your area, please contact us at &'())' *+,'-,.- or use the form below to request information. Side Effects of Cancer Treatments Severe Anemia /he main side effects of leukemia chemotherapy treatment are severe anemia 0the risk of bleeding from a low platelet count1 and a high likelihood of infection. /his is caused because 0&1 acute myelogenous leukemia decreases the production of normal blood cells, and 0+1 the levels are further decreased by the added effects of chemotherapy. /he intensity of chemotherapy required to destroy sufficient leukemia cells to permit a remission leads to even more severe decreases in red cells, phagocytes, and platelets. /o reduce the side effects of severe anemic or the reduction or red cell blood transfusions are given. 2 platelet transfusion is usually effective in providing sufficient amounts of these cells until the beneficial effects of treatment occur several weeks later, and blood cell counts return toward normal. Chemotherapy 3atients with acute myelogenous leukemia 02451 usually receive chemotherapy drugs as soon as possible after diagnosis. Chemotherapy uses strong cancer drugs to kill leukemia cells. /his first stage of treatment is called induction therapy. /he goal is to achieve remission 0no signs of leukemia cells1 and to restore normal blood production. Common chemotherapy drugs given during induction therapy include daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and cytarabine. /hese cancer drugs kill the leukemia cells by stopping them from growing. 6nfortunately, chemotherapy also kills normal cells, so 245 patients receiving induction therapy may have side effects including nausea, tiredness, and higher risk of infections.

"or most patients, induction therapy brings back normal blood cell production within a few weeks, and microscopic e7aminations of their blood and marrow samples show no signs of leukemia cells. When this happens, the disease is in remission. 2t this point, several long'term treatment choices may be considered. /hese include further chemotherapy or a blood stem cell transplant.