Be Our Partner! Book a Free Consultation Now! Become a Member > Get Involved >
Health Conditions > Health Articles > Find a Practitioner > Events >

Home  /  Health Conditions  /  Leukemia

Leukemia

Cancers of the blood cells that start in the bone marrow. The four main types — ALL, AML, CLL and CML — behave and are treated very differently. Leukemia is most common in older adults, yet it is also the most common cancer in children, and most children with ALL now survive.

Being treated for leukemia? Call your oncology team right away — even in the middle of the night — or go to the emergency room for:

  • A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. During chemotherapy this is a medical emergency: fever may be the only sign of an infection, and infection can be life-threatening (CDC). Chemotherapy lowers the white blood cells that fight infection (neutropenia) (CDC), often most between 7 and 12 days after a treatment (CDC). At the emergency room, say you are a cancer patient getting chemotherapy, so you are seen quickly (CDC). Ask your team before taking anything to lower a fever, because it can hide a serious problem (National Cancer Institute).
  • Other signs of infection: chills and sweats, a new or changed cough, shortness of breath, a sore throat or mouth sore, a stiff neck, pain when urinating, or redness or swelling anywhere, including around ports (CDC).
  • Unusual bleeding: bleeding that doesn’t stop after a few minutes; bleeding from the mouth or nose or when you vomit; red or pink urine; black or bloody stools; or a much heavier period (NCI).
  • Confusion, severe headache, unusual sleepiness, slurred speech or weakness on one side. With low platelets, NCI says to call about bad headaches, vision changes, or feeling confused or very sleepy (NCI). Very high leukemia counts can clog small blood vessels (leukostasis), causing stroke-like symptoms; ACS says this is rare but a medical emergency (American Cancer Society). Confusion and impaired speech are also signs of a nerve side effect of CAR T-cell therapy (NCI).
  • Trouble breathing. Leukostasis in the lungs can cause shortness of breath (ACS). The NHS says to call emergency services for a swollen, red face, neck, arms or hands, or swollen veins in the neck or chest, that come on suddenly (NHS). If you are struggling to breathe, call 911.

Keep your care team’s daytime and after-hours numbers with you (CDC). Never wait for an acupuncture, massage or chiropractic appointment for any of these.

Complementary therapies are used alongside, never instead of, leukemia treatment. No complementary approach has been shown to cure cancer or make it go into remission, and some may interfere with cancer treatment (NCCIH, U.S. National Institutes of Health). Tell your oncology team about every supplement, even vitamins (NCI). See also our Cancer guide.

What is leukemia?

Leukemia is a term for cancers of the blood cells. It starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, which makes white blood cells (to fight infection), red blood cells (to carry oxygen) and platelets (to help blood clot). In leukemia the marrow makes large numbers of abnormal cells, most often white blood cells, which crowd out healthy blood cells, leading to infection, anemia and easy bleeding (MedlinePlus, National Cancer Institute). Its cause is unknown; it happens when the genetic material (DNA) in bone marrow cells changes (MedlinePlus).

Leukemia is named for the kind of blood cell involved — lymphocytic (a type of white blood cell) or myeloid — and for how fast it grows. Acute leukemia grows quickly and usually gets worse fast without treatment; chronic leukemia grows slowly (MedlinePlus).

The four main types — and who gets each

About 67,790 new U.S. cases of leukemia are expected in 2026, and about 1.6% of people are diagnosed with it in their lifetime (NCI SEER). It occurs most often in adults older than 55, but it is also the most common cancer in children younger than 15 (NCI).

Leukemia in children

ALL makes up about 25% of all childhood cancers in the U.S. and occurs most often between ages 1 and 4 (NCI). About 3 in 4 childhood leukemias are ALL and most of the rest are AML; chronic leukemias are rare in children (American Cancer Society). The exact cause is often unknown; inherited conditions such as Down syndrome raise the risk, and genetic counseling can help families learn whether it might be inherited (NCI).

Symptoms

Early symptoms can look like the flu or other common illnesses (NCI). Check with a doctor if any of these don’t go away:

Acute leukemia symptoms often develop over a few weeks (NHS). CLL often causes no symptoms at first and is found on a routine blood test (NCI).

Diagnosis

  • Blood tests. A complete blood count (CBC) counts red cells, white cells and platelets; a blood smear looks for immature “blast” cells (NCI).
  • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. After the skin is numbed, a hollow needle removes marrow, blood and a small piece of bone from the hipbone or breastbone, to look for leukemia cells (NCI).
  • Genetic and molecular tests. Cytogenetic tests and FISH look for changed chromosomes, such as the Philadelphia chromosome; molecular tests look for gene changes that help plan treatment and predict outlook; flow cytometry and immunophenotyping identify the exact type (NCI).
  • Spread. A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) checks for leukemia cells around the brain and spinal cord, and imaging may also be used (MedlinePlus).

Outlook by type

For people diagnosed in 2016–2022, 5-year relative survival was 68.6% for leukemia overall (NCI SEER Program), but the types differ widely:

These numbers come from large groups and can’t predict one person’s outcome (NCI SEER), and children diagnosed today might do better, because treatment keeps improving (ACS).

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Treatment by type: chemotherapy for acute leukemias; TKIs such as imatinib for CML; watch-and-wait, then BTK inhibitors or venetoclax for CLL; blinatumomab and CAR T-cell therapy for some ALL; stem cell transplant; clinical trials. Cost estimate being researched. Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and nonprofit programs can help. The treatment that puts leukemia into remission or controls it. 5-year relative survival ranges from 33.4% (AML) to 90.2% (CLL); about 90% of children with ALL survive 5 years.
Chiropractic No role in treating leukemia. Possibly gentle care for ordinary back or neck pain — only with your oncologist’s OK. About $55–$100 a self-pay follow-up visit; first visits about $90–$200. No evidence it affects leukemia. Skip it while platelets are low; bone or joint pain can be a leukemia symptom and needs your cancer team first.
Acupuncture Used alongside treatment for chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and for fatigue. About $90–$185 a follow-up visit cash-pay; community clinics about $50–$90. Strongest evidence is for treatment-related nausea; fatigue results are less certain. Needs strict clean-needle technique and your team’s OK when counts are low.
Herbal medicine No herb or supplement treats leukemia or keeps it from coming back. Cost estimate being researched. Real risks: St. John’s wort can weaken imatinib and interacts with other leukemia drugs; grapefruit must be avoided with several; antioxidants may interfere with chemotherapy. Tell your team about everything you take.
Massage therapy Gentle massage for comfort, stress and anxiety during and after treatment, from a therapist experienced with cancer care. One national chain: $125–$160 for 60 minutes (nonmember); prices vary by location. Limited, low-quality evidence for pain and anxiety. Check platelets first; no pressure on ports or lines.
MBHA Wellness Coach Infection precautions, eating well and food safety, fatigue and activity, school re-entry for children, survivorship care plans and emotional support. Coaching: cost estimate being researched. Many support groups are free. Practical help living through long treatment and follow-up. Supports — never replaces — your oncology care.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Treatment depends on the type of leukemia, how severe it is, your age and overall health (MedlinePlus), and whether it is new, in remission or has come back (National Cancer Institute). Children are cared for by a pediatric oncologist (NCI). We don’t list doses or schedules — your team sets them.

1. Acute leukemias (ALL and AML): chemotherapy in phases

Treatment usually starts with remission induction, to kill leukemia cells in the blood and marrow, followed by consolidation to kill cells that remain (NCI). Children with ALL also have a maintenance phase, and taking medicine as ordered then lowers the chance the leukemia comes back (NCI). Because leukemia cells can hide in the brain and spinal cord, treatment usually includes chemotherapy into the spinal fluid (intrathecal) and sometimes radiation to the brain (NCI).

  • AML treatment depends on the subtype: chemotherapy, sometimes with targeted drugs matched to gene changes, or gentler options for people who can’t have intensive chemotherapy. Acute promyelocytic leukemia, a subtype that can cause severe bleeding, is treated with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide (NCI).
  • Philadelphia chromosome–positive ALL may be treated with a targeted drug such as imatinib, sometimes with chemotherapy (NCI).

2. Immunotherapy for ALL: blinatumomab and CAR T cells

  • Blinatumomab brings the body’s T cells and leukemia cells together so the T cells can kill the leukemia (NCI). It is used for ALL that has come back (NCI), and ACS reports that adding it to chemotherapy showed better outcomes for some children with ALL (ACS).
  • CAR T-cell therapy re-engineers a patient’s own T cells to attack the cancer. The first was approved in 2017 for children with ALL; it eliminated leukemia in most children with relapsed ALL in trials, and many have stayed cancer-free for years. Serious side effects include very high fevers with drops in blood pressure (cytokine release syndrome) and nerve problems such as confusion (NCI).

3. CML: tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)

Targeted pills that block the abnormal protein are usually the first treatment for CML (American Cancer Society). Imatinib was the first such drug; others include dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, ponatinib and asciminib. Most people need to keep taking a TKI to stay in remission, though some with very good, lasting responses may be able to stop or lower the dose; taking them exactly as directed matters (ACS). A stem cell transplant is an option if TKIs stop working (NHS).

4. CLL: watch-and-wait, then targeted drugs

Early CLL that causes no symptoms is often watched closely without treatment. ACS says treating it right away doesn’t seem to help people live longer, some people never need treatment, and research has found no harm from waiting; blood counts and exams are checked regularly (ACS). When treatment is needed, targeted drugs are often first (ACS): BTK inhibitors (ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib, pirtobrutinib) and the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, sometimes with an antibody such as obinutuzumab (ACS). BTK inhibitors can cause bleeding, serious infections and heart rhythm problems (ACS). The NHS says CLL can’t be cured but treatment can control it, sometimes for years (NHS).

5. Stem cell transplant and clinical trials

In a stem cell transplant, high-dose chemotherapy (sometimes with whole-body radiation) is followed by an infusion of stem cells from the patient or a donor, which rebuild the blood (NCI). In children it is rarely the first treatment for ALL and is used more often if it comes back (NCI). For some people a clinical trial may be the best choice, and NCI’s clinical trial search lists NCI-supported trials (NCI).

What it costs

Cost estimate being researched. Ask a hospital financial counselor or social worker early; groups such as the HealthWell Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society offer financial help (NCI).

How well it works — what to expect

Medical treatment is what puts leukemia into remission or keeps it under control; results differ by type (see Outlook by type above). Follow-up continues after treatment — see Late effects and survivorship.

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care has no role in treating leukemia. No complementary approach has been shown to cure cancer (NCCIH, U.S. National Institutes of Health), and a systematic review of chiropractic care for people with cancer found mostly case reports and commentaries, concluding that the field needs further research (Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2012). We found little research on chiropractic care in people with leukemia. The chance of a serious side effect from spinal manipulation may be greater in people with underlying health problems (NCCIH).

MBHA caution: get your oncologist’s OK first. No source we found sets rules for chiropractic care in leukemia, so these are MBHA’s own precautions, based on these facts:

What it costs

A self-pay follow-up visit is about $55–$100, and a first appointment commonly about $90–$200 (The Pricer).

Find a chiropractor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is used alongside leukemia treatment to ease side effects — not to treat the leukemia itself (National Cancer Institute).

What the research shows

  • Nausea and vomiting: the strongest evidence for acupuncture in cancer care comes from trials for nausea and vomiting; a 2013 review of 41 trials found it helped chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting (NCI). Much of this research came before current anti-nausea guidelines, so it’s uncertain how much acupuncture adds to today’s medicines (NCCIH). Keep taking the anti-nausea medicines your team prescribes.
  • Fatigue: a 2018 review of 10 studies suggested acupuncture may be more helpful than sham acupuncture or usual care for cancer-related fatigue (NCCIH).
  • We found little research on acupuncture specifically in people with leukemia.

Staying safe

What it costs

Cash-pay follow-up visits run about $90–$185, first visits up to about $125–$230, and community acupuncture about $50–$90 (The Pricer).

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

No herb or supplement treats leukemia. There are no studies proving that any special diet, food, vitamin, mineral, dietary supplement or herb can slow cancer, cure it or keep it from coming back — and some can change how cancer treatment works (National Cancer Institute). Never use one to replace or delay treatment.

Interactions with leukemia drugs

Tell your oncology team about everything

Give your team an up-to-date list of everything you take, including vitamins and herbs, and check before starting anything new (ACS). After treatment, keep telling your doctors about any new vitamins, herbs or supplements (NCI). We don’t list doses here.

What it costs

Cost estimate being researched.

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Massage can help some people feel calmer and more comfortable during cancer care, but it does not treat leukemia. With appropriate precautions, massage can be part of supportive care for people with cancer, though the evidence that it relieves pain and anxiety is not strong (NCCIH).

What the research shows

  • A 2016 review of 19 studies found some evidence that massage might help with pain and anxiety in people with cancer, but the evidence was very low quality and inconsistent (NCCIH).
  • We found little research on massage specifically for people with leukemia.

Staying safe

  • Low platelets: you may bruise or bleed easily (NCI) — check your counts with your care team before any massage, and ask for light touch. Therapists may need to use less pressure in areas made sensitive by cancer or its treatment (NCCIH). Serious side effects are rare; some reported cases involved vigorous massage or people at higher risk of injury (NCCIH).
  • MBHA caution — no pressure on ports, central lines or swollen lymph nodes. This is our own precaution. Redness, soreness or swelling around a port is a sign of infection to report right away (CDC).
  • Low white cells: stay away from people who are sick (NCI) — reschedule if your therapist has a cold.

What it costs

As one example from a national chain, three locations list a 60-minute massage at $125–$160 for nonmembers, and memberships run about $70–$90 a month; prices vary by location (The Pricer). Massage from a therapist trained in cancer care may cost differently.

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach works alongside your oncology team on everyday life during and after treatment — never as a substitute for medical care.

Infection precautions and eating well

Fatigue and activity

More than 80% of people getting chemotherapy or radiation have fatigue that rest doesn’t fully relieve; a fatigue diary helps your team find causes (NCI). Exercise is safe and helpful for most people — if very tired, start with 10 minutes of light activity a day — but avoid public gyms and crowds while infection risk is high (ACS). See our Chronic Fatigue guide.

Back to school for children

Staying connected to school helps children keep learning and feel normal. Options include home or hospital teaching and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans. Plan the return early with the care team and the school, and give the school a list of medicines, warning signs and emergency contacts (American Cancer Society).

Survivorship plans and emotional support

Ask for a written treatment summary to share with every doctor (NCI). Living with a leukemia that may come back can be hard, and support from family, friends or a support organization can help (NHS). Ask your hospital social worker or nurse about resources (NCI); support groups can help you feel less alone (NCI). See our Depression and Anxiety guides. In a crisis, call or text 988 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

What it costs

Wellness coaching: MBHA cost estimate being researched. Many support groups are free, though some charge a small fee (NCI).

Another approach

Late effects and survivorship

Because treatment has improved so much, most children treated for leukemia will live long lives, and watching for late effects as they grow up is a vital part of their care (American Cancer Society). Late effects are problems that start 6 months or more after treatment and can last for years (National Cancer Institute). After childhood leukemia they can include:

  • Second cancers. A small risk of AML after certain chemotherapy drugs (ACS), and other second cancers such as brain tumors and thyroid cancer (NCI).
  • Heart problems from anthracycline drugs such as doxorubicin; some survivors need heart ultrasounds (echocardiograms) (ACS).
  • Learning and memory. Brain radiation and some chemotherapy, such as intrathecal treatment, may affect learning, and children may need extra support in school (ACS). Children younger than 4 who had brain radiation are at higher risk (NCI).
  • Growth, hormones and fertility. Treatment can slow growth (TKIs for CML can too), affect thyroid and other hormones, and affect fertility; ask about fertility preservation before treatment (ACS).
  • Bones and nerves. Steroids can thin the bones, and vincristine can cause numbness or tingling (ACS).
  • Mental health. Childhood cancer survivors are more likely to have depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, so follow-up should include screening for distress (NCI).

Follow-up and your survivorship care plan

  • Visits are usually monthly in the first year after childhood leukemia, then less often for at least 5 years, then at least yearly. ALL and AML most often come back during treatment or within about a year after (ACS).
  • A survivorship care plan should summarize the diagnosis and treatment, set a schedule of follow-up tests, and list late effects to watch for (ACS). Doctors can use the Children’s Oncology Group long-term follow-up guidelines to build it (ACS).
  • Lifelong checkups. Childhood cancer survivors should have an exam at least once a year by someone who knows their late-effect risks. Healthy habits such as a good diet and exercise may make late effects less severe, while smoking or excess alcohol may worsen treatment-related organ damage (NCI).

Member stories

Living with Leukemia? Share your experience

Real experiences help others choose. Tell us what you tried — conventional medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, herbs, massage or coaching — what it cost and what changed.

No stories have been published for this condition yet. Yours could be the first.

Which approaches have you tried?

What did you try, what did it cost, and what changed for you? Please leave out anything you’d rather keep private.

We read every story before it’s published and may shorten it. Stories describe one person’s experience; results vary. See our Privacy Policy.

Sources

This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

Find the right practitioner

Search MBHA’s Health Directory for doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists across the Monterey Bay.

Search the Directory All Health Conditions

The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a charitable, independent registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse any particular products or practices. Claims and statements herein are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. We strongly recommend that you seek out your trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition. MBHA provides administrative support, education and navigation — not medical, legal or tax advice — and cannot guarantee claim, billing or fundraising outcomes. MBHA is not an emergency service: in an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.