ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about the number of people who are diagnosed with AML each year. You will also read general information on surviving the disease. Remember, survival rates depend on several factors. Use the menu to see other pages.

This year, an estimated 21,380 people of all ages (11,960 men and boys and 9,420 women and girls) in the United States will be diagnosed with AML. AML is the second most common type of leukemia diagnosed in adults and children. It is rare for the disease to occur before age 45; the average age at the time of diagnosis is 67 years.

An estimated 10,590 deaths (6,110 men and boys and 4,480 women and girls) from AML will occur this year.

The 5-year survival rate tells you what percent of people live at least 5 years after the cancer is found. Percent means how many out of 100. The 5-year survival rate for people with AML is approximately 27%.

However, it is important to note that survival depends on several factors, including biologic features of the disease and, in particular, a patient’s age (see Subtypes for more information). Although AML is a serious disease, it is treatable and often curable with chemotherapy with or without a bone marrow/stem cell transplant (see the Treatment Options section).

It is important to remember that statistics on the survival rates for people with AML are an estimate. The estimate comes from annual data based on the number of people with this cancer in the United States. People should talk with their doctor if they have questions about this information. Also, experts measure the survival statistics every 5 years. So the estimate may not show the results of better diagnosis or treatment available for less than 5 years. Learn more about understanding statistics.

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's (ACS) publication, Cancer Facts and Figures 2017, and from the ACS website.

The next section in this guide is Medical Illustrations. It offers drawings of body parts often affected by this disease. You may use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.

ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about the factors that increase the chance of developing AML. Use the menu to see other pages.

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Although risk factors often influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do. Knowing your risk factors and talking about them with your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health care choices.

Although the cause of AML is not known, several factors are associated with an increased risk of the disease. The following factors may raise a person’s risk of developing AML:

• Age. AML is more common in older adults, but it occurs at all ages. About half of people with AML are older than 65 when diagnosed.

• Smoking. The risk of AML has been linked to exposure to tobacco smoke, probably along with other causes. 

• Genetic disorders. Increasingly, researchers are finding that leukemia may run in a family due to inherited gene mutations. AML occurs more often in people with the following inherited disorders:

  • Down syndrome

  • Ataxia telangiectasia

  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome

  • Klinefelter syndrome

  • Fanconi anemia

  • Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

  • Bloom syndrome

  • Familial Platelet Disorder syndrome

• High doses of radiation. People who have been exposed to high levels of radiation, such as long-term survivors of atomic bombs, may be more likely to develop AML. Electromagnetic fields generated by high-voltage electrical power lines have not been shown to cause AML. Cell phone use is not a known risk factor for AML.

• Previous cancer treatment. People who have received chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for other types of cancer, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lymphoma, have a higher risk of developing AML in the years following treatment.

• Chemicals. Long-term contact with products containing the chemical benzene, found in petroleum, cigarette smoke, and industrial workplaces, raises the risk of AML. However, exposure to industrial solvents and hair dyes has not been proven to increase a person’s risk of AML.

• Other bone marrow disorders. People who have other bone marrow diseases including myeloproliferative disorders can develop AML over time. Myelo- means bone marrow and proliferative means too much. These conditions include:

  • Polycythemia vera

  • Myelofibrosis

  • Essential thrombocytosis

  • Myelodysplastic syndromes

  • Aplastic anemia

The next section in this guide is Symptoms and Signs. It explains what body changes or medical problems this disease can cause. You may use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.

ON THIS PAGE: You will find a list of the common tests, procedures, and scans that doctors can use to find out what’s wrong and identify the cause of the problem. Use the menu to see other pages.

Doctors use many tests to find, or diagnose leukemia. They also do tests to find out the subtype (see Subtypes). Doctors may also do tests to learn which treatments could work best. For example, imaging tests can show more information about the cause of your symptoms. Imaging tests show pictures of the inside of the body.

For most types of cancer, a biopsy is the only sure way for the doctor to know whether an area of the body has cancer. In a biopsy, the doctor takes a small sample of tissue for testing in a laboratory. If a biopsy is not possible, the doctor may suggest other tests that will help make a diagnosis.

This list describes options for diagnosing AML. Not all tests listed below will be used for every person. Your doctor may consider these factors when choosing a diagnostic test:

• The type of leukemia suspected

• Your signs and symptoms

• Your age and medical condition

• The results of earlier medical tests

The following tests may be used to diagnose AML:

• Blood tests. To diagnose AML, a doctor will do blood tests to count the number of white blood cells and to see if they look abnormal under the microscope. Special tests called flow cytometry, or immunophenotyping, and cytochemistry are sometimes used to distinguish AML from other types of leukemia and to determine the exact subtype of AML.

• Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. These 2 procedures are similar and often done at the same time to examine the bone marrow. Bone marrow has both a solid and a liquid part. A bone marrow aspiration removes a sample of the fluid with a needle. A bone marrow biopsy is the removal of a small amount of solid tissue using a needle. A pathologist then analyzes the sample(s). A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. A common site for a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy is the pelvic bone, which is located in the lower back by the hip. The skin in that area is numbed with medication beforehand. Other types of anesthesia (medication to block the awareness of pain) may also be used. If blood tests (see above) indicate AML, it is better to have the bone marrow aspiration and biopsy at the hospital where treatment will be given so the test does not need to be repeated.

• Molecular and genetic testing. Your doctor may recommend running laboratory tests to identify specific genes, proteins, and other factors involved in the leukemia. Examining the genes in the leukemia cells is important because AML can be caused by a buildup of mistakes (also called mutations) in the cell’s genes. Identifying these mistakes helps diagnose the specific subtype of AML and choose treatment options. In addition, the results of those tests can also be used to monitor how well treatment is working. Listed below are the more common molecular or genetic tests used for AML.

  • Cytochemical and immunohistochemical tests are laboratory tests that are used to find out the exact subtype of AML. In cytochemical tests, a special dye is used that stains the different types of leukemia cells differently based on the chemicals in the cells. For AML, immunohistochemical tests and a test called flow cytometry are used to find markers on the surface of the leukemia cells. The different subtypes of leukemia have different and unique combinations of cell surface markers.

  • Cytogenetics is a way to look at a cell’s chromosomes (long strands of genes) through a microscope to analyze the number, size, shape, and the arrangement of the chromosomes to find genetic changes in the leukemia cells. Sometimes, a chromosome breaks off and reattaches to another chromosome, which is called a translocation. Other times, part of a chromosome is missing, called a deletion. A chromosome can also be made more than once, most often called a trisomy. Some subtypes of leukemia are caused by chromosome translocations, deletions, or trisomies.

    Knowing if there are certain translocations may help doctors determine the AML subtype and plan the best treatment. Flourescence-in-situ-hybridization (FISH) is a way to detect chromosome changes in cancer cells and is being used more often to help diagnose and determine the subtype of leukemia. This test is done on tissue removed during a biopsy or aspiration (see above).

  • The molecular genetics of leukemia cells can also be used to help find out if a person needs more or less chemotherapy and/or bone marrow/stem cell transplantation (see the Treatment Options section). The goal of this type of testing is to look for very small genetic mutations, called sub-microscopic mutations.

• Imaging tests. The imaging tests listed below may be used to learn more about the cause of symptoms or to help diagnose infections in patients with AML. They are not regularly used to find out how widespread the AML is because the disease has often spread throughout the bone marrow when it is first diagnosed.

  • A computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan is a test that creates a 3-dimensional picture of the inside of the body using x-rays taken from different angles. A computer combines these images into a detailed, cross-sectional view that shows any abnormalities. Sometimes, a special dye called a contrast medium is given before the scan to provide better detail on the image. This dye can be injected into a patient’s vein or given as a pill to swallow.

  • A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that uses magnetic fields, not x-rays, to produce detailed images of the body. A special dye called a contrast medium is given before these scans to create a clearer picture. This dye can be injected into a patient’s vein or given as a pill to swallow.

  • A PET scan is usually combined with a CT scan (see above), called a PET-CT scan. However, you may hear your doctor refer to this procedure just as a PET scan. A PET scan is a way to create pictures of organs and tissues inside the body. A small amount of a radioactive sugar substance is injected into the patient’s body. This sugar substance is taken up by cells that use the most energy. Because cancer tends to use energy actively, it absorbs more of the radioactive substance. A scanner then detects this substance to produce images of the inside of the body. A PET scan may be used to find a myeloid sarcoma and find out how well treatment is working against the sarcoma.

• Lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap. A lumbar puncture is a procedure in which a doctor uses a needle to take a sample of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) to look at the make up of the fluid and to find out is it contains leukemia cells or blood. CSF is the fluid that flows around the brain and spinal cord. Doctors generally give an anesthetic to numb the lower back before the procedure. The CSF is then examined under the microscope to look for AML cells. Patients with AML do not often need to have a lumbar puncture.

After diagnostic tests are done, your doctor will review all of the results with you. If the diagnosis is AML, these results also help the doctor describe the disease. This is called subtyping.

The next section in this guide is Subtypes. It explains the way that doctors describe AML. You may use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.

ON THIS PAGE: You will learn about the different treatments doctors use for adults with AML. Use the menu to see other pages.

This section tells you the treatments that are the standard of care for this type of leukemia. “Standard of care” means the best treatments known. When making treatment plan decisions, patients are encouraged to consider clinical trials as an option. A clinical trial is a research study that tests a new approach to treatment. Doctors want to learn whether the new treatment is safe, effective, and possibly better than the standard treatment. Clinical trials can test a new drug, a new combination of standard treatments, or new doses of standard drugs or other treatments. Your doctor can help you consider all your treatment options. To learn more about clinical trials, see the About Clinical Trials and Latest Research sections.

Treatment overview

In cancer care, different types of doctors often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatments. This is called a multidisciplinary team. Cancer care teams include a variety of other health care professionals, such as physician assistants, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, and others.

Descriptions of the most common treatment options for AML are listed below. Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the subtype, morphology, and cytogenetics of AML (see Subtypes), possible side effects, and the patient’s preferences and overall health. Your care plan may also include treatment for symptoms and side effects, an important part of cancer care.

The most successful treatment for AML depends on the results of the first treatment, so it is important for patients to have their first treatments at a center experienced with treating AML.

Take time to learn about all of your treatment options and be sure to ask questions about things that are unclear. Talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment and what you can expect while receiving the treatment. Learn more about making treatment decisions.

Intensive chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by ending the cancer cells’ ability to grow and divide. The drugs get into the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication. Or, it is given by a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders.

Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for AML. Systemic chemotherapy is delivered through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Common ways to give chemotherapy include:

• An intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle. When chemotherapy is given by IV, it may be given into a larger vein or a smaller vein, such as in the arm. When it is given into a larger vein, a central venous catheter or port may need to be placed in the body.

• An injection into the cerebral spinal fluid

• In a pill or capsule that is swallowed (orally)

• An injection under the skin, called a subcutaneous injection

A chemotherapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time. A patient may receive 1 drug at a time or combinations of different drugs given at the same time. Several drugs are used to treat AML, which are discussed below.

Learn more about the basics of chemotherapy and preparing for treatment. The medications used to treat cancer are continually being evaluated. Talking with your doctor is often the best way to learn about the medications prescribed for you, their purpose, and their potential side effects or interactions with other medications. Learn more about your prescriptions by using searchable drug databases.

Chemotherapy by phase

Chemotherapy for AML can be divided into 3 phases: induction, post-remission, and consolidation.

• Induction therapy. This is the first period of treatment after a person’s diagnosis. The goal of induction therapy is a complete remission (CR). A person has a CR when:

  • Blood counts have returned to normal

  • Leukemia cannot be found in a bone marrow sample when examined under the microscope

  • There are no longer any signs and symptoms of AML

  The combination of cytarabine (Cytosar-U) given over 4 to 7 days and an anthracycline drug, such as daunorubicin (Cerubidine) or idarubicin (Idamycin), given for 3 days is used most often. Patients may also be given hydoxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea) to help lower white blood cell counts. In addition to killing leukemia cells, these drugs also damage healthy cells, increasing the risk of infection and bleeding (see below). Most patients will need to stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 weeks during induction therapy before their blood counts return to normal. Sometimes, 2 rounds of therapy are needed to achieve a CR. Approximately 75% of younger adults with AML and about 50% of patients older than 60 achieve a CR after treatment. 

  Some older adults may not be able to have induction therapy with the standard drugs. The drugs decitabine (Dacogen), azacitidine (Vidaza), and low dose cytarabine may be used instead. A clinical trial is also an option.

• Post-remission therapy. After induction therapy, a variety of different drugs are used to destroy AML cells that remain but cannot be detected by medical tests. AML will almost certainly recur if no further treatment is given after a CR. For some patients, bone marrow/stem cell transplantation (see below) is recommended as part of post-remission therapy.

• Consolidation therapy. Chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation may be used for consolidation therapy.

  • Younger adults in remission are commonly given 2 to 4 rounds of high- or intermediate-dose cytarabine or other intensive chemotherapy at monthly intervals. Several different regimens are used for older patients. Although chemotherapy is usually given in the hospital, most of the recovery time can be spent at home.

  • A bone marrow/stem cell transplantation is often recommended as consolidation therapy for younger patients in whom cytogenetic or molecular studies predict a poorer prognosis with only chemotherapy.

• Stem cell transplantation/bone marrow transplantation. A stem cell transplant is a medical procedure in which bone marrow that contains leukemia is destroyed and then replaced by highly specialized cells, called hematopoietic stem cells, that develop into healthy bone marrow. Hematopoietic stem cells are blood-forming cells found both in the bloodstream and in the bone marrow. Today, this procedure is more commonly called a stem cell transplant, rather than bone marrow transplant, because it is the stem cells in the blood that are typically being transplanted, not the actual bone marrow tissue.

  Before recommending transplantation, doctors will talk with the patient about the risks of this treatment and consider several other factors, such as the type of leukemia, results of any previous treatment, and patient’s age and general health.

  There are 2 types of stem cell transplantation depending on the source of the replacement blood stem cells: allogeneic (ALLO) and autologous (AUTO). ALLO uses donated stem cells, while AUTO uses the patient’s own stem cells. ALLO transplants are generally used for AML.

  The goal is to destroy all of the cancer cells in the marrow, blood, and other parts of the body using high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and then allow replacement blood stem cells to create healthy bone marrow.

  Side effects depend on the type of transplant, your general health, and other factors. Learn more about the basics of stem cell and bone marrow transplantation.

Side effects of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy for AML attacks rapidly dividing cells, including those in healthy tissues, such as the hair, lining of the mouth, intestines, and bone marrow. People with AML receiving chemotherapy may lose their hair, develop mouth sores, or have nausea and vomiting. Hair will regrow after treatment is finished, and there are effective drugs to help prevent and control nausea and vomiting. The side effects of chemotherapy may be different depending on the drugs used. Patients are encouraged to talk with their doctors about short-term and long-term side effects before treatment begins.

Because of the effect on healthy blood cells in the bone marrow, chemotherapy used for AML will lower the body’s ability to fight infection for a short time, and increased bruising, bleeding, and fatigue may be common. People with AML often receive antibiotics to prevent and treat infections and will need transfusions of red blood cells and platelets throughout chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may also affect the patient’s fertility, or ability to have a child in the future. Patients concerned about this are encouraged to talk with a fertility specialist before treatment begins.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the leukemia’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to the growth and survival of the leukemia. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of leukemia cells while limiting damage to healthy cells.

Recent studies show that not all cancers have the same targets. To find the most effective treatment, your doctor may run tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor. This helps doctors better match each patient with the most effective treatment whenever possible. In addition, many research studies are taking place now to find out more about specific molecular targets and new treatments directed at them. Learn more about the basics of targeted treatments.

The following targeted treatments may be used for AML, depending on the gene mutations found in the leukemia cells:

• Midostaurin (Rydapt) for people who have AML with a FLT3 gene mutation. About 25% to 30% of people with AML have AML with a FLT3 gene mutation.

• Enasidenib (IDHIFA) for people who have relapsed or refractory AML with an IDH2 mutation.

Talk with your doctor about possible side effects for a specific medication and how they can be managed

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treatment

The treatment of the APL subtype of AML is very different. This subtype is very sensitive to the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). ATRA is a drug that is similar to vitamin A and is given by mouth. People with the APL subtype who receive a combination of ATRA and arsenic trioxide (Trisenox) are very likely to have a CR. Less commonly, chemotherapy containing regimens (see above) with idarubicin, daunorubicin, or cytarabine may also be used. Arsenic trioxide may be used during induction therapy alone or in combination with ATRA during post-remission therapy or if APL comes back after treatment.

Mild to severe bleeding is a common symptom of APL. Patients with this subtype often need many platelet and blood transfusions during initial treatment. Compared with other subtypes of AML where maintenance therapy is not used, some patients with APL may benefit from use of ATRA plus low dose oral chemotherapy for 1 to 2 years after the initial treatment.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. The most common type of radiation therapy is called external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. A radiation therapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time. Because AML is found throughout the blood, radiation therapy is generally used only when leukemia cells have spread to the brain or to shrink a myeloid sarcoma.

Side effects from radiation therapy may include fatigue, mild skin reactions, upset stomach, and loose bowel movements. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is finished. Learn more about the basics of radiation therapy.

Getting care for symptoms and side effects

Leukemia and its treatment often cause side effects. In addition to treatments intended to slow, stop, or eliminate the disease, an important part of care is relieving a person’s symptoms and the side effects of treatment. This approach is called palliative or supportive care, and it includes supporting the patient with his or her physical, emotional, and social needs.

Palliative care is any treatment that focuses on reducing symptoms, improving quality of life, and supporting patients and their families. Any person, regardless of age or type and stage of cancer, may receive palliative care. It works best when palliative care is started as early as needed in the cancer treatment process. People often receive treatment for the leukemia at the same time that they receive treatment to ease side effects. In fact, patients who receive both at the same time often have less severe symptoms, better quality of life, and report they are more satisfied with treatment.

Palliative treatments vary widely and often include medication, nutritional changes, relaxation techniques, emotional support, and other therapies. You may also receive palliative treatments similar to those meant to eliminate the leukemia, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment in the treatment plan.

Before treatment begins, talk with your health care team about the possible side effects of your specific treatment plan and palliative care options. During and after treatment, be sure to tell your doctor or another health care team member if you are experiencing a problem so it can be addressed as quickly as possible. Learn more about palliative care.

Refractory AML

If leukemia is still present after initial treatment, the disease is called refractory AML. If this happens, it is a good idea to talk with doctors who have experience in treating it. Doctors can have different opinions about the best standard treatment plan. Also, clinical trials might be an option. Learn more about getting a second opinion before starting treatment, so you are comfortable with your chosen treatment plan.

Your treatment plan may include new drugs being tested in clinical trials. An ALLO stem cell transplant should also be considered. Palliative care will also be important to help relieve symptoms and side effects.

For most patients, a diagnosis of refractory leukemia is very stressful and, at times, difficult to bear. Patients and their families are encouraged to talk about the way they are feeling with doctors, nurses, social workers, or other members of the health care team. It may also be helpful to talk with other patients, including through a support group.

Remission and the chance of recurrence

A remission is when the leukemia cannot be detected in the body, there are no symptoms, and a patient’s blood counts are normal. This may also be called having “no evidence of disease” or NED. 

A remission may be temporary or permanent. This uncertainty causes many people to worry that the cancer will come back. While many remissions are permanent, it’s important to talk with your doctor about the possibility of the leukemia returning. Understanding your risk of recurrence and the treatment options may help you feel more prepared if the disease does return. Learn more about coping with the fear of recurrence.

If the leukemia does return after the original treatment, it is called recurrent or relapsed leukemia. When this occurs, a new cycle of testing will begin again to learn as much as possible about the recurrence. After this testing is done, you and your doctor will talk about your treatment options. Often the treatment plan will include the treatments described above, such as chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy, but they may be used in a different combination or given at a different pace. Your doctor may suggest clinical trials that are studying new ways to treat this type of recurrent leukemia. Whichever treatment plan you choose, palliative care will be important for relieving symptoms and side effects. 

The treatment for recurrent AML often depends on the length of the initial remission. If the AML comes back after a long remission, the original treatment may work again. If the remission was short, then other drugs are used, often through a clinical trial. An ALLO stem cell transplant may be the best option for patients whose leukemia has come back after initial treatment. However, many drugs and other approaches are being researched in clinical trials and these may provide other treatment options.

People with recurrent leukemia often experience emotions such as disbelief or fear. Patients are encouraged to talk with their health care team about these feelings and ask about support services to help them cope. Learn more about dealing with cancer recurrence.

If treatment doesn’t work

Recovery from leukemia is not always possible. If the leukemia cannot be cured or controlled, the disease may be called advanced or terminal.

This diagnosis is stressful, and for many people, advanced leukemia may be difficult to discuss because it is incurable. However, it is important to have open and honest conversations with your doctor and health care team to express your feelings, preferences, and concerns. The health care team is there to help, and many team members have special skills, experience, and knowledge to support patients and their families. Making sure a person is physically comfortable and free from pain is extremely important.

Patients with advanced leukemia who have no more effective treatment options available may want to consider a type of palliative care called hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people who are near the end of life. You and your family are encouraged to talk with the health care team about hospice care options, which include hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other health care locations. Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a workable option for many families. Learn more about advanced cancer care planning.

After the death of a loved one, many people need support to help them cope with the loss. Learn more about grief and loss.

The next section in this guide is About Clinical Trials. It offers more information about research studies that are focused on finding better ways to care for people with cancer. You may use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.

ON THIS PAGE: You will read about the scientific research being done now to learn more about AML and how to treat it. Use the menu to see other pages.

Doctors are working to learn more about AML, ways to prevent it, how to best treat it, and how to provide the best care to people diagnosed with this disease. The following areas of research may include new options for patients through clinical trials. Most cancer centers are actively involved in clinical trials focused on increasing the number of people cured of AML. Always talk with your doctor about the best diagnostic and treatment options for you.

• Understanding AML biology. Research on the biology of AML is ongoing to learn more about how leukemia develops and to improve its treatment, particularly for older patients.

• New drugs and treatment regimens. Researchers are looking at the use of existing drugs given in different doses and schedules, as well as new drugs. Specific research includes the use of drugs called hypomethylating therapy, such as azacitidine or decitabine. A new drug combination called CPX-351, which combines the drugs cytarabine and daunorubicin is also being researched.

• Targeted therapy. Researchers are studying ways to block how specific genetic changes found in AML cells affect the body. Quizartinib, crenolanib, and gliteritinib are investigational drugs that stop the mutated FLT3 gene from working that is being tested in clinical trials. Other targeted therapies are being researched that stop AML cells from becoming resistant to chemotherapy when the chemotherapy stops working. Specific targeted therapy drugs being researched include glasdegib, venetoclax (Venclexta), and other drugs that are targeted to specific gene mutations such as IDH1 (ivositenib), c-KIT, and RAS.

• Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy, is designed to boost the body’s natural defenses to fight the leukemia. It uses materials made either by the body or in a laboratory to improve, target, or restore immune system function. Researchers are specifically looking at vaccines and the use of antibodies directed against the AML cells. Researchers are also looking at adoptive immunotherapy techniques. This type of immunotherapy involves changing a person’s white blood cells in a laboratory to increase their ability to fight the tumor. The changed cells are given back to the patient.

• Stem cell/bone marrow transplantation. Different ways to make stem cell transplantation safer, easier, and more effective are also being studied (see Treatment Options).

• Palliative care. Clinical trials are underway to find better ways of reducing symptoms and side effects of current AML treatments to improve patients’ comfort and quality of life.

Looking for More About the Latest Research?

If you would like additional information about the latest areas of research regarding AML explore these related items that take you outside of this guide:

• To find clinical trials specific to your diagnosis, talk with your doctor or search online clinical trial databases now.

• Visit the website of the Conquer Cancer Foundation to find out how to help support cancer research. Please note that this link takes you to a separate ASCO website.

The next section in this guide is Coping with Treatment. It offers some guidance in how to cope with the physical, emotional, and social changes that AML and its treatment can bring. You may use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.

ON THIS PAGE: You will read about your medical care after treatment is completed, and why this follow-up care is important. Use the menu to see other pages.

Care for people diagnosed with AML doesn’t end when active treatment has finished. Your health care team will continue to check to make sure the leukemia has not returned, manage any side effects, and monitor your overall health. This is called follow-up care.

Your follow-up care may include regular physical examinations, medical tests, or both. Doctors want to keep track of your recovery in the months and years ahead. Learn more about the importance of follow-up care.

Watching for recurrence

One goal of follow-up care is to check for a recurrence. Leukemia recurs because small areas of leukemia cells may remain undetected in the body. Over time, these cells may increase in number until they show up on test results or cause signs or symptoms. During follow-up care, a doctor familiar with your medical history can give you personalized information about your risk of recurrence. Your doctor will ask specific questions about your health. Some people may have blood tests or imaging tests done as part of regular follow-up care, but testing recommendations depend on several factors including the subtype of AML originally diagnosed and the types of treatment given.

The anticipation before having a follow-up test or waiting for test results can add stress to you or a family member. This is sometimes called “scan-xiety.” Learn more about how to cope with this type of stress. 

Managing long-term and late side effects

Most people expect to experience side effects when receiving treatment. However, it is often surprising to survivors that some side effects may linger beyond the treatment period. These are called long-term side effects. Other side effects called late effects may develop months or even years afterwards. Long-term and late effects can include both physical and emotional changes.

Talk with your doctor about your risk of developing such side effects based on the subtype of AML, your individual treatment plan, and your overall health. If you had a treatment known to cause specific late effects, you may have certain physical examinations, scans, or blood tests to help find and manage them.

Keeping personal health records

You and your doctor should work together to develop a personalized follow-up care plan. Be sure to discuss any concerns you have about your future physical or emotional health. ASCO offers forms to help create a treatment summary to keep track of the treatment you received and develop a survivorship care plan when treatment is completed.

This is also a good time to decide who will lead your follow-up care. Some survivors continue to see their oncologist, while others transition back to the care of their family doctor or another health care professional. This decision depends on several factors, including the subtype of AML, side effects, health insurance rules, and your personal preferences.

If a doctor who was not directly involved in your care for AML will lead your follow-up care, be sure to share your treatment summary and survivorship care plan forms with him or her, and with all future health care providers. Details about your treatment are very valuable to the health care professionals who will care for you throughout your lifetime.

The next section in this guide is Survivorship. It describes how to cope with challenges in everyday life after a diagnosis of AML. You may use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.

ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your doctor or other members of your health care team, to help you better understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care. Use the menu to see other pages.

Talking often with your health care team is important to make informed decisions about your health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you. You may want to print this list and bring it to your next appointment, or download Cancer.Net’s free mobile app for a digital list and other interactive tools to manage your care.

Questions to ask after getting a diagnosis

• What is my diagnosis? What does it mean?

• What subtype of AML do I have?

• Do I need to start treatment right away?

• Can you recommend a leukemia specialist?

• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects

• Where is the best place for me to receive treatment?

• What are my options for treatment?

• What clinical trials are available for me? Where are they located, and how do I find out more about them?

• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?

• What is the goal of each treatment? Is it to eliminate the leukemia, manage the symptoms or side effects, or both?

• How likely is it that my AML will go into remission? What does that mean?

• Who will be part of my health care team, and what does each member do?

• Who will be leading my overall treatment?

• What are the possible side effects of this treatment, both in the short term and the long term?

• Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?

• Could this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant or have children? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before treatment begins?

• How will the treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?

• If I’m worried about managing the costs of medical care, who can help me?

• What support services are available to me? To my family?

• Whom should I call with questions or problems?

• Is there anything else I should be asking?

Questions to ask about having chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a bone marrow/stem cell transplant

• What type of treatment is recommended?

• What is the goal of this treatment?

• How long will it take to give this treatment?

• How long will treatment last overall?

• Will I need to stay in the hospital during treatment? Why and when?

• What side effects can I expect during treatment?

• What are the possible long-term effects of having this treatment?

• What can be done to relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about planning follow-up care

• What is the chance that the AML will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?

• What long-term side effects or late effects are possible based on the treatment I received?

• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?

• How do I get a treatment summary and survivorship care plan to keep in my personal records?

• Who will be leading my follow-up care?

• What survivorship support services are available to me? To my family?

The next section in this guide is Additional Resources. It offers some more resources on this website beyond this guide that may be helpful to you. You may use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.