Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Newly Diagnosed?
We Can Help

Information for those newly diagnosed with leukemia

If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (also known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is ready to help. Our experienced team of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who treat ALL is dedicated to providing the highest-quality treatment and care for patients with this disease. Our patients also have access to innovative therapies through our clinical trials.

Overview
Acute lymphocytic leukemia is uncommon among adults -- about 2,410 will develop the disease in the United States this year -- but ALL is the most common childhood cancer.
Symptoms
The symptoms of acute leukemia generally appear suddenly and can be similar to those of a virus or flu. Symptoms can be severe enough that they prompt patients to see a doctor soon after their onset.
Risk Factors
Certain inherited, or genetic, diseases increase a person's chances for developing ALL. Many people with one or more of these risk factors never develop leukemia.
Diagnosis
Physicians perform a variety of tests to help diagnose leukemia and determine its type and subtype.
Classification
Most physicians classify ALL by its subtype using a system called the French American British (FAB) system, which takes into account a number of features of the cancer cells.
Treatment
Physicians develop a course of treatment for each ALL patient that takes a number of factors into account. It is for this reason that ALL patients with the same subtype may receive different treatments.
Follow-Up Care
After the completion of leukemia treatment, patients should see their physicians for frequent follow-up exams for several years.

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