Forms of treatment vary depending on the type of leukaemia.

Chemotherapy

Treatment using anticancer drugs. Chemotherapy acts on all the body's cells and is carried round the body by the blood stream. It is sometimes known as cytotoxic therapy because it is poisonous to all the cells whether or not they are cancerous. Medical staff should explain exactly what the side effects might be. Chemotherapy can cause hair loss but this is usually temporary.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is localised treatment. It kills cancer cells in the area of the body being treated and is therefore effective treatment for localised disease, particularly in lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Side effects will vary according to the type of treatment.

Bone marrow and Stem Cell transplantation

Bone marrow transplantation is the replacement of a patient's own bone marrow with that provided by a suitable donor. Bone marrow / stem cell transplantation has an important role to play in the treatment of some leukaemias since it allows the use of intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy that would otherwise leave the marrow permanently damaged. Every year thousands of people with leukaemia reach a stage when only a bone marrow/stem cell transplant can save them.

Until recently bone marrow had been the only source of stem cells for transplantation. New techniques include obtaining stem cells from the peripheral blood and the use of stem cells from the umbilical cord of a new born baby.