What is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

ALL is the most common type of childhood leukemia.^1,2 It is a rapidly progressing cancer that starts in the bone marrow and spreads into the blood.³

It represents 12 percent of all leukemia cases worldwide, and about 80 percent of childhood leukemia cases.^4,5 However, the 5-year survival rate for children with ALL is now about 90 percent.⁶

In 2021, newly diagnosed ALL cases in Taiwan were 334 cases.⁷

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of ALL may include: ⁸

• Bleeding from the gums
• Bone pain
• Fever
• Frequent infections
• Frequent or severe nosebleeds
• Lumps caused by swollen lymph nodes
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness/fatigue

Treatment

Treatment options for ALL can be determined by the patient’s ALL subtype, age and overall state of health. The main types of treatments include: ^9,10

• Chemotherapy
• Targeted Therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Surgery
• Radiation Therapy
• Stem Cell Transplant

Survivorship

While ALL is highly treatable, some patients may experience long-term effects or late effects from the disease and/or treatment.^11,12 This is why survivorship in ALL begins the day of diagnosis and continues throughout life, even for a patient in remission. It is considered one of the most complex aspects of the cancer experience because it is different for every patient. Patients and their families may experience a range of varied and strong emotions, including joy, concern, relief, guilt and fear: ¹³