Leukemia - Acute Lymphocytic (ALL) Surgery

/Home/Leukemia Cures and Treatment/Leukemia and Surgery

Leukemia - Acute Lymphocytic (ALL) Surgery
American Cancer Society

Last Revised: 08/03/2007

Detailed Guide

Because leukemia cells spread widely throughout the bone marrow and to many other organs, it is not possible to cure this type of cancer by surgery. Aside from a possible lymph node biopsy, surgery rarely has any role even in the diagnosis, since a bone marrow aspirate and biopsy can usually diagnose leukemia.

Often before treatment is about to start, surgery is needed to insert a small plastic tube, called a central venous catheter or venous access device (VAD), into a large vein. The end of the tube is just under the skin or sticks out in the chest area or upper arm. The VAD is left in place during treatment to take blood samples and give intravenous (IV) drugs such as chemotherapy. This lowers the number of needle sticks needed during treatment. It is very important for the patient to learn how to care for the device to keep it from getting infected.

Copyright 2009 © American Cancer Society, Inc.