How long does someone live with acute lymphocytic leukemia?
Prognosis for ALL is improving daily. High cure rates are observed across different ALL populations.
In children, prognosis is the best, with over 90% of kids diagnosed with ALL expected to be cured. For adolescents and young adults, about 60 to 70% are expected to be cured. In older adults, traditionally, cure rates are around 40%, but recent research indicates much higher rates.
Overall, prognosis for this disease is good. However, these are intense, aggressive cancers. ALL involves rapid growth of cancer cells, similar to how normal white blood cells would multiply quickly in response to an infection.
For effective treatment, it's crucial to cure these diseases entirely. Leaving even one ALL cell in the body can lead to a relapse. There is no such thing as partial remission for ALL. For those over the age of 70 or 80, treatment may focus on keeping the disease under control for as long as possible, knowing that a cure is challenging to achieve.
HealthTree • July 23, 2024