What will therapy for leukemia in a 5 year old consist of?
*How long will she stay in hospital
*How often will she have Chemo
*Does medicare cover Chemo?
*How much is chemo without insurance?
- J.S.
Treatment for leukemia completely depends on the type and subtype of leukemia the child has been diagnosed with. The most common leukemia for children to be diagnosed with is ALL.
My 2 1/2 year old son E was diagnosed with a Wilms' Tumour as a newborn, won his battle, and was recently diagnosed with Secondary Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). AML is related to ALL but still quite different. His cancer is most likely a secondary cancer caused by the chemotherapy his first time when he fought Wilms. E somehow passed his screenings he has every 3 months back in October but in the end of November we started to notice he wasn't quite himself, and he was diagnosed December 19th.
Treatment varies depending on the type and the subtype of leukemia present in the child. Treatment is individualized to the patient. I can tell you about AML, I know more about it than I do ALL. We have met kids in the hospital with ALL but I know more about my son's AML. Typically, chemo consists of an induction chemotherapy (1-3 rounds), and when remission is achieved consolidation chemo is given. Consolidation chemo is typically 3 rounds of a high dose of ara-C. I don't know how consolidation chemo goes for other patients but my son's protocol involves 7 days in-patient chemo and 21 days to recover. He usually stays in the hospital for about 2 weeks from the start of the round of chemo. He had 3 rounds of induction chemo (2 failed rounds and finally a successful 3rd attempt) and he had 3 rounds of consolidation chemo. His chemo was supposed to be finishing up in September but he was put back on an intense chemo this past round due to a new tumour unrelated to the leukemia so depending on what it is we're not sure if he'll be able to finish chemo in September but we hope he can.
For ALL, after the consolidation phase, the patient receives maintenance chemotherapy for up to 2 years which, as the name suggests, maintains remission to make sure the leukemia does not return. This is kept up for as long as the patient can tolerate it which usually isn't until the last dose.
There are often delays due to low counts or infection. Delays are to be expected and thankfully E has only had his chemo delayed once due to low counts. He receives other medications before, during, and after chemo doses in order to combat the side effects. He usually takes Zofran (has also taken Ativan or Kytril but most often Zofran) to help with the nausea and vomiting caused by several of the drugs in his chemo cocktail. He also takes various pain killers to help with the bone pain he experiences.
After consolidation chemo he will most likely have a bone marrow biopsy to look for a complete remission. Hopefully then he'll receive his NED status (no evidence of disease). If this is a relapse for him he may have a bone marrow or stem cell transplant which involves a high dose of chemo and an iv infusion of donor bone marrow or stem cells and about a month in the hospital recovering. My son is on the transplant list waiting for a matching donor since none of my other children were good enough matches.
I'm sorry I can't answer the medicare or insurance questions well, we live in Canada so our medical system is completely different and treatment does not cost us like it does in America. From the little bit I do know of the American system, medicare will not cover children but adults over the age of 65. Medicaid may cover treatment if you qualify for it. If you're uninsured I know it will be very, very expensive.
I hope treatment goes well for the child. If you have any other questions or anything feel free to IM me (crazycanuck) or send me an email (crazycanuckj@yahoo.ca).
- Char
I hope all goes well for your 5 year old friend.
Here is where you'll find the best info. They also have online counselors you can chat with.
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls
Best wishes
Leukemia — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, risk factors, treatment of this blood-related cancer.
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