
Get answers to your Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia questions.
Acute lymphoblastic (or lymphocytic) leukemia
Acute lymphocytic leukemia is responsible for about 1,400 deaths a year in the U.S., and it can progress quickly if untreated. However, ALL is one of the most curable cancers and survival rates are now at an all-time high.
According to the American Cancer Society, certain factors can help determine prognosis:
Other factors, such as central nervous system involvement or recurrence, may also indicate a poorer prognosis.
Outlook in Children with ALL. More than 95% of children with ALL attain remission.
Certain children are at higher risk for a poor outcome than others:
Responding well to early treatment is a good sign regardless of the risk category. Other positive predictors include:
Outlook in Adults with ALL. Adults tend to have a more severe condition than children, even if they are carrying the same ALL genes. Still, 60 - 80% of adults with ALL can expect to achieve full remission with standard treatments, and 35 - 40% survive beyond 2 years with aggressive treatments. Younger adults with ALL have better long-term survival rates than older adults with the disease.
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