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Last Updated on November 20, 2025 by Ugurkan Demir
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a blood and bone marrow cancer. Chemotherapy is the main treatment for AML. It uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The 7+3 regimen, with 7 days of cytarabine and 3 days of an anthracycline, is a common treatment for new cases.
At Liv Hospital, we know chemo for leukemia side effects can be tough to handle. Our patient-centered approach and top-notch protocols offer trusted guidance and support during treatment. It’s important for patients to know about the side effects of chemotherapy.
Getting a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is tough. But knowing what to expect can help. AML is a cancer that starts in the bone marrow, where blood cells are made. It happens when abnormal white blood cells grow too fast and take over the bone marrow.
AML starts with genetic changes in bone marrow cells. These changes make cells grow out of control. This leads to too many leukemia cells in the bone marrow.
The exact reason for these genetic changes isn’t always clear. But some things can make it more likely to get AML.
There are several things that can raise your risk of getting AML. These include:
Knowing these risk factors is key to catching AML early. AML can get worse fast, so quick diagnosis and treatment are vital.
AML is a fast-moving disease. If not treated right away, it can cause serious problems. The main treatment for AML is chemotherapy. It tries to kill the leukemia cells and help the bone marrow make healthy blood cells again.
Starting treatment quickly is very important. Waiting too long can lead to serious issues like infections, bleeding, and organ failure. But, with quick and proper treatment, many people with AML can get better and live longer.
Dealing with an AML diagnosis can feel overwhelming. But with the right care and support, patients can get through it. We focus on giving our patients the best care possible. We aim to help them not just fight the disease but also stay well overall.
Chemotherapy is key in treating AML, helping to fight this aggressive leukemia. These treatments are based on solid evidence and aim to get the patient into remission.
The 7+3 regimen is a common AML treatment. It involves cytarabine for 7 days and an anthracycline for 3 days. This mix has proven effective in many patients.
The type of anthracycline used can change, with daunorubicin and idarubicin being options. The 7+3 regimen is a mainstay because it works well in getting patients into remission.
Cytarabine stops leukemia cells from growing by messing with their DNA. It’s a special kind of medicine that gets into DNA and stops it from working right, leading to cell death.
Anthracyclines, like daunorubicin, work in two ways. They get in between DNA strands and mess with enzymes, and they also create damage to cells and DNA. This makes anthracyclines very effective against leukemia.
Chemotherapy for AML is split into two main parts: remission induction and consolidation. The goal of the first part is to get rid of all leukemia cells.
After that, consolidation therapy is used to kill any leukemia cells that are left. This phase is important for lowering the chance of the disease coming back and improving survival chances.
In some cases, a maintenance therapy phase might be added. But this is not as common in AML treatment as it is in other types of leukemia.
It’s important for patients with leukemia to know about chemotherapy side effects. Chemotherapy helps fight Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) but can harm normal cells too. This leads to various side effects.
Chemotherapy drugs target fast-growing cells, like cancer cells, and some healthy cells. This can cause side effects. Common ones include feeling very tired, getting sick easily, and needing blood transfusions.
Side effects can be short-term or long-term. Short-term effects happen during or right after treatment. These include hair loss, feeling sick, and being very tired.
Long-term effects can last months or years after treatment ends. They include lasting fatigue, getting sick easily, and damage to organs like the heart.
How bad the side effects are can vary a lot. Age, health, the type of chemotherapy, and genetics play a big role. Knowing these factors helps manage side effects better.
| Factor | Influence on Side Effects |
| Age | Older patients may experience more severe side effects due to decreased physiological reserve. |
| Overall Health | Patients with comorbid conditions may be more susceptible to certain side effects. |
| Chemotherapy Regimen | The type and dose of chemotherapy drugs can significantly impact the type and severity of side effects. |
Knowing about chemotherapy side effects and what affects them helps patients. It improves their life during treatment.
Chemotherapy for AML often leads to myelosuppression. This is when blood cell counts drop. It happens because the drugs harm the bone marrow’s cells.
Myelosuppression can cause many problems. These include a higher chance of getting sick, feeling tired, and needing blood transfusions. It’s important to understand this side effect to help manage it in AML treatment.
Low blood cell counts, or myelosuppression, happen when chemotherapy damages the bone marrow. This makes it hard for the bone marrow to make blood cells. This can lead to:
Table: Effects of Low Blood Cell Counts
| Condition | Description | Consequences |
| Neutropenia | Low neutrophil count | Increased infection risk |
| Anemia | Low red blood cell count | Fatigue, weakness |
| Thrombocytopenia | Low platelet count | Increased bleeding risk |
Neutropenia is a big worry because it makes infections more likely. To lower this risk, patients are told how to prevent infections. This includes:
When anemia or thrombocytopenia gets really bad, blood and platelet transfusions might be needed. These transfusions help by:
Transfusions are a key part of AML treatment. They help manage myelosuppression’s side effects and keep patients healthy.
People with AML often lose their hair and experience skin issues during chemotherapy. These problems can be tough to handle. But knowing why they happen and how to deal with them can make things easier.
Hair loss, or alopecia, is a common side effect of chemotherapy. The 7+3 regimen, a common treatment for AML, includes drugs like cytarabine and anthracyclines. These drugs can stop hair follicles from working, leading to hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body.
Hair loss from chemotherapy is usually temporary. Hair will grow back after treatment ends. But how fast and how much hair grows back can depend on the drugs and doses used.
Skin reactions during AML treatment can range from mild dryness to severe rashes. These reactions happen because chemotherapy drugs affect skin cells. Keeping the skin moisturized is a simple way to manage dryness and irritation.
Dealing with hair loss and skin changes can be tough. But there are ways to cope. Support from family, friends, and support groups is very helpful. Using wigs, scarves, or hats can also help manage hair loss.
“The psychological impact of hair loss should not be underestimated. Support and understanding from healthcare providers can greatly help patients cope with this change.”
For skin changes, keeping skin clean and using the right skincare products can help. It’s also key to tell your healthcare provider about any severe skin reactions.
While dealing with hair loss and skin changes is hard, it’s good to know they are usually temporary. As treatment goes on and ends, most people find their hair grows back and their skin returns to normal.
Gastrointestinal side effects are a big worry for those getting chemotherapy for AML. These issues can really hurt a patient’s quality of life and health.
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. They can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and malnutrition. We use antiemetic medications to prevent and treat these symptoms.
The choice of an antiemetic depends on the chemotherapy regimen and the patient’s individual factors. It’s key for patients to tell their healthcare team about their symptoms. This way, they can get the right treatment and support.
Chemotherapy can change bowel habits, leading to diarrhea or constipation. Diarrhea is caused by chemotherapy’s direct effects on the gut mucosa. Constipation can be due to certain medications, like antiemetics or pain relievers.
To manage diarrhea, we suggest a low-fiber diet and medications like loperamide. For constipation, we recommend more fluid, a high-fiber diet, and laxatives or stool softeners. Sometimes, patients need to be checked for gastrointestinal complications that need more care.
Nutritional support is key during AML treatment. It helps maintain strength, supports recovery, and manages side effects. We advise patients to eat a balanced diet full of protein, calories, and essential nutrients.
If patients struggle to eat or absorb nutrients, we might suggest nutritional supplements or enteral nutrition. Our goal is to make sure patients get the nutrients they need to stay healthy and do well with treatment.
Patients with AML often face oral mucositis, a painful condition. It affects the mouth’s lining, making eating, drinking, and speaking hard. This can really lower their quality of life.
Chemotherapy damages the mouth’s cells, causing inflammation and ulcers. The pain can be severe. How bad it gets depends on the treatment and the patient.
Factors influencing the severity of oral mucositis include:
Managing oral mucositis needs pain relief and good oral care. Rinsing with saline or sodium bicarbonate can help prevent infection and aid healing.
“Good oral care is key in preventing and managing oral mucositis. Regular brushing and using a mild mouthwash keep the mouth clean.”
Topical anesthetics and pain relief medications can help with pain.
Oral mucositis makes eating and swallowing painful. It’s important to eat well to stay strong and recover from AML treatment.
| Nutritional Strategy | Description |
| Soft Foods | Choose soft, bland foods that are easy to swallow. |
| Avoid Irritants | Stay away from spicy, acidic, or sharp foods that can hurt mouth sores. |
| Nutritional Supplements | Think about supplements if solid foods are too painful. |
AML patients on chemotherapy often feel very tired. This is called cancer-related fatigue. It can really hurt their quality of life, affecting both their body and mind.
Cancer-related fatigue is not just feeling tired. It’s a deep, lasting feeling of exhaustion. It makes it hard to do everyday things and doesn’t get better with rest. Many things can cause it, like the disease itself, chemotherapy, and feelings of anxiety and depression.
Key factors contributing to cancer-related fatigue include:
It might seem odd, but moving your body can help fight fatigue. Simple activities like walking or yoga can boost energy and mood. Always talk to your doctor about starting an exercise plan.
Benefits of physical activity during AML treatment:
It’s important to manage your energy and activities. Prioritize tasks, take breaks, and use tools to make things easier.
Practical tips for energy conservation:
AML chemotherapy can cause neurological side effects. These effects can really impact a patient’s life and well-being. It’s important to manage them carefully.
“Chemo brain” is a term for cognitive problems after chemotherapy. Symptoms include memory loss, trouble focusing, and processing information.
Studies show that some AML treatments can lead to these brain changes. The exact reasons are not fully known. But it’s thought that chemotherapy might affect the brain’s normal function.
Strategies to Manage “Chemo Brain”:
Peripheral neuropathy is a side effect of some AML treatments. It damages nerves, causing numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness in the hands and feet.
| Symptom | Description | Management Strategy |
| Numbness/Tingling | Sensation of pins and needles or loss of feeling | Medications for nerve pain, physical therapy |
| Pain | Sharp or burning pain in the hands and feet | Pain management medications, acupuncture |
| Weakness | Muscle weakness affecting hands and feet | Physical therapy, occupational therapy |
Some neurological side effects may last long after treatment. It’s key to talk to your healthcare team about what to expect. They can help manage these effects.
Long-term effects can include ongoing cognitive issues and neuropathy. There’s also a higher risk of neurological conditions. Ongoing research aims to understand and reduce these effects.
Knowing about the neurological effects of AML chemotherapy helps patients prepare. Working closely with healthcare providers is vital. This ensures the best quality of life during and after treatment.
Chemotherapy for AML can greatly affect fertility and hormonal balance. It’s key to grasp the long-term effects on reproductive health and hormones during AML treatment.
AML treatment, mainly chemotherapy, can harm reproductive health. The type and intensity of chemotherapy can damage the gonads. This might lead to infertility or temporary fertility issues. It’s important to consider these when discussing treatment plans with patients.
Fertility concerns should be addressed early in the treatment process. This ensures patients know their options.
Fortunately, there are ways to preserve fertility during AML treatment. Men can consider sperm banking, and women can look into egg or embryo freezing. It’s vital to talk about these options with healthcare providers before starting treatment.
Hormonal changes from AML treatment can cause symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. Managing these symptoms often requires a team effort. This includes hormonal replacement therapy or other supportive care.
Knowing about hormonal changes helps in creating a detailed care plan. This plan addresses both AML treatment and its side effects.
When AML doesn’t respond to first-line treatment, it’s important to know about refractory AML and its treatment. This condition is tough to manage and needs a detailed approach.
Refractory AML is AML that doesn’t get better with initial treatment or comes back. It’s when leukemia cells keep showing up after chemotherapy. Knowing what refractory AML is helps figure out what to do next.
Dealing with refractory AML is hard. It often means looking for other treatment options. The disease’s progress and the patient’s health are key in choosing the right treatment.
For refractory AML, doctors might try different chemotherapy mixes. They look for new ways to target leukemia cells. The aim is to get the patient into remission or improve their quality.
We look into various treatments, including clinical trials. These trials offer new, innovative therapies. We check each option’s benefits and risks for the patient.
Key considerations include:
Stem cell transplantation might be a cure for some with refractory AML. It replaces the patient’s bad bone marrow with healthy stem cells. The choice to do this depends on the patient’s health and whether a good donor is found.
We check if stem cell transplantation is right for each patient. We look at the benefits and risks. We also talk about what to expect during recovery.
Knowing the treatment options for refractory AML helps patients and families make informed choices. We aim to offer full support and guidance every step of the way.
Managing AML treatment is key to good patient outcomes. It’s a balance between fighting cancer and keeping the patient’s quality of life good.
Knowing the side effects of chemotherapy is important. It helps patients prepare for the treatment. This way, they can better handle the challenges ahead.
Whether myeloid leukemia is curable depends on many things. This includes the patient’s health and how well they respond to treatment. Thanks to new treatments, many patients can get better and live a better life. Working with doctors and using support services helps patients do well with AML treatment.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a blood and bone marrow cancer. It grows fast and fills the bone marrow with bad cells. This stops normal blood cells from being made.
The main treatment for AML is chemotherapy. The 7+3 regimen is often used for new cases. It involves giving cytarabine for 7 days and an anthracycline for 3 days.
Chemotherapy for AML can cause many side effects. These include low blood cell counts, hair loss, and stomach problems. It can also cause mouth sores, tiredness, and affect fertility. Knowing how to deal with these side effects is key.
Myelosuppression is a big side effect of AML chemotherapy. It makes blood cell counts low. To manage it, doctors use ways to prevent infections and give blood transfusions to increase cell counts.
Hair loss is common with AML treatment. Patients can use wigs, hats, or scalp cooling to deal with it. Understanding why it happens helps too.
AML treatment can cause stomach problems like nausea and diarrhea. It’s important to manage these symptoms. Good nutrition is also key to staying healthy.
Managing mouth sores and pain is important. Doctors use pain treatments and teach good oral care. This helps keep patients comfortable and improves their quality of life.
Fatigue is a big side effect of AML treatment. To manage it, patients can stay active, save energy, and learn about its causes. This helps them feel better.
Chemotherapy can cause “chemo brain” and nerve damage. It’s important to understand these effects and how to handle them. This helps keep the brain and nerves working well.
AML treatment can harm fertility and hormonal balance. It’s important for patients to know this and explore ways to preserve fertility. This is for those who might want children later.
Refractory AML means the first treatment didn’t work. Doctors then try other treatments like different chemotherapy or stem cell transplants.
Whether AML can be cured depends on many things. These include the patient’s health, the leukemia type, and how well they respond to treatment. Quick and effective treatment can lead to remission and possibly a cure for some.
Medical News Today. (2023, June 27). AML treatment side effects: Short- and long-term. Retrieved October 20, 2025, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/aml-treatment-side-effects
