HEALTH INSIGHTS

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): Status After Treatment

June 15, 2018

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): Status After Treatment

During and after treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), you’ll have tests. These tests are to check your blood and bone marrow for leukemia cells. This is to see how well treatment is working, or to look for signs that the leukemia might have come back. 

Terms you may hear

Depending on how well treatment works, your AML might be described with one of the terms below. 

In remission (complete remission)

This means:

  • There is no sign of the leukemia after treatment.

  • Your blood counts have returned to normal.

  • You have fewer than 5% immature cells (blasts) in your bone marrow. 

Sometimes the terms complete molecular remission or complete molecular response is used. This means that leukemia cells cannot be found in the bone marrow even with very sensitive lab tests. Being in remission doesn’t necessarily mean you’re cured. A remission may be long-lasting (permanent). This means the cancer is cured. But a remission may also be short-term (temporary). 

Minimal residual disease (MRD)

Your AML seems to be in remission. But very sensitive lab tests are still able to find leukemia cells in the bone marrow. Your AML may be more likely to come back (relapse). You may benefit from more treatment to try to kill the remaining cells.

Refractory AML

The leukemia has not gone away and is not responding to treatment. 

Relapsed (recurrent) AML

Your leukemia has returned after a period of remission. Your blood counts may be abnormal again. You have at least 5% blasts in your bone marrow. Your doctor will discuss your treatment options to try to get the leukemia back into remission.

Working with your healthcare provider

Treating cancer is a process. You and your healthcare provider will work together to find the treatments that work best for you.

Updated:  

June 15, 2018

Reviewed By:  

Levy, Adam S, MD,Stump-Sutliff, Kim, RN, MSN, AOCNS