Yes, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can be completely cured in most cases. With successful treatment, the five-year survival rate for adults is around 85%, and the rate for children is even higher, reaching close to 95%.
Complete remission is the goal of ALL treatment, and this means that the leukemia cells are completely gone and the patient’s blood and bone marrow are back to normal. This does not always happen, however, and some patients may experience a relapse. In these cases, additional treatment may be necessary.
The most common treatment for ALL is chemotherapy, which uses powerful drugs to target and destroy cancer cells. This treatment is often supplemented with radiation therapy, which uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. In some cases, a stem cell transplant may be recommended to replace damaged bone marrow.
Although the long-term outlook for ALL is generally good, the disease can have serious side effects. Chemotherapy is associated with hair loss, nausea, and an increased risk of infection. Radiation therapy can cause skin damage, fatigue, and organ damage.
In conclusion, ALL can be completely cured in most cases. Treatment is often successful, but it comes with serious side effects. For this reason, it is important to speak with your doctor about the risks and benefits of each type of treatment before beginning.