There is no staging for childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia. The choice of treatment is based on the child s age, the results of laboratory tests, and whether or not the child has ever been treated for leukemia. Untreated childhood ALL Untreated childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia means that no treatment has been given except to treat symptoms. There are too many white blood cells in the blood and bone marrow, and there may be other signs and symptoms of leukemia. The child s treatment will probably be remission induction chemotherapy to kill cancer cells and cause the leukemia to go into remission.
Induction chemotherapy is usually successful in inducing remission.
Clinical trials are testing new ways of inducing remission. ALL in remission Remission means that treatment has been given and that the numbers of white blood cells and other blood cells in the blood and bone marrow are normal. There are no signs or symptoms of leukemia. The child s treatment will probably be intensive chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. Following intensification therapy, chemotherapy generally continues until the child has been in continuous remission for several years.