Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) treatment

For many people, the aim of treatment is to get rid of the leukaemia – to cure the AML.

AML is a fast-growing type of leukaemia, so strong treatment is needed.

On this page:

• What treatment will I have?
• Questions to ask your medical team
• Tips for a better hospital stay
• Tips for when you're at home
• Key things to know about treatment
• The emotional impact of treatment
• Research and the future of AML treatment

There are many different treatment options for AML, and everyone’s treatment plan is personal to them.

Some people can have their treatment as part of a clinical trial, which can allow you to have one of the latest treatments.

Your treatment will be managed by a hospital team who are specialists in blood cancer.

Treatment usually involves a combination of drugs. Some are chemotherapy drugs, but there are other types of cancer drugs too. Some are given into the vein (intravenously), but others are taken as tablets or injections. Most people will need to be in hospital for some of their treatment.

Your doctor will always be looking at what they think is the best treatment for you. They will consider your general fitness, the specific type of AML you have, and they’ll talk to you about your preferences.

Your treatment plan might change too. It’s normal to switch between different treatments at different times.

There are two main groups of treatments for AML:

• Intensive treatments
• Non-intensive treatments

Ask your doctor if you’re not sure which type of treatment you’ll be having.

Here are some questions to ask about treatment, to help you understand more about it:

• What treatment do you recommend and why?
• What will it involve and how long will it take?
• What is the aim of the treatment?
• Who do I contact if I think of more questions later?

Other people with AML find these things helpful at hospital:

• Notepad and pen, to write down any questions for your doctor, or even to plan your visitors.
• Drawings or cards from children – they brighten up your room, but they also give children something positive to do.
• Being honest about whether you want visitors – sometimes you might not feel like it, and that’s fine.
• Home-cooked food – just check with your medical team first.
• Home comforts like your own pillow, wash bag or mug.
• Photo frames or a colourful blanket – anything to brighten up the room.
• Eye mask and ear plugs –very helpful for sleeping in a hospital.
• Chosen person to get updates – you can give your medical team permission to give updates to a close family member or friend. This is helpful as sometimes it’s hard to remember everything yourself.

Tips for taking care when you come home from hospital:

• Have contact details for your medical team, including who you can contact on evenings and weekends – keep them somewhere easy to find
• Keep the house generally clean and warm – if you’re worried about being able to do this, tell your medical team
• Have food that's quick and easy to make ready at home – Ready-made meals or snacks are fine too – the important thing is that you eat.
• Try to move around each day. Even just walking around the house will be good physical activity that can help improve your strength
• Take time to rest, but when you have some energy, do things that you enjoy too – you need both.
• Know how to reduce the risk of catching an infection – this is important for you and anyone who looks after you to know. See our information about symptoms of an infection.

There are many more tips, and stories from other people with AML and their families, in our booklet Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML): your guide to diagnosis, treatment and life after AML.

A few key things to remember:

• You should be given a named key contact, usually clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and a phone number or email in case you have any questions or worries. If you don’t know yours, ask your medical team.
• Your doctor and the rest of your medical team are there to answer your questions. Don't be afraid to ask them whatever you want to know. It's their job to make sure you understand what's happening.
• You can contact us for help preparing for appointments or talking to your medical team – this is something we talk to people about a lot. If you don't feel confident talking to your medical team, contact our Support Service.

For more specific information about treatment and different drugs, read about intensive treatments or non-intensive treatments.

Going through treatment can be hard, even traumatic, for the person with AML and their family and friends.

But other people with AML and their families have lots of tips from experience, which you’ll see throughout these web pages.

Everyone reacts in their own way, and however you are feeling is normal.

If you need someone to talk to, contact our Support Service. Family and friends can contact us too. We’re here to help you through it. Call us on 0808 2080 888.

There’s lots more information about dealing with the practical and emotional side of AML here: Coping with AML.

It's often helpful to talk to other people with AML about how they have coped during treatment.

Treatment for AML continues to improve thanks to research finding better drugs and better ways to monitor AML.

Here are some examples of recent advances in AML treatment and possible future advances:

The discovery of certain genetic changes (mutations) that happen in AML cells means that newer treatments are much better at targeting and destroying leukaemia cells.

Using extremely sensitive tests to check for measurable residual disease (MRD) has also improved survival in AML, because we’ve got much better at knowing when further treatment is needed to prevent a relapse.

Clinical trials are key to improving treatment for AML. Current trials are looking at new drugs, which may be better than existing treatments. We can help you find out if there are any clinical trials you might be eligible for, through our Clinical Trials Support Service.

Despite all the advances, AML is still a difficult blood cancer to treat. We will continue to fund research that we are confident will make life better for people with AML, whether by improving survival or making treatments less toxic. You can find out more about the research we are funding right now into AML.