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Our highly trained specialists are available 24/7 via phone and on weekdays can assist through online chat. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with essential services and resources at every step of their cancer journey. Ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
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Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Adults
Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. It is usually not part of the main treatment for people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but there are a few instances in which it may be used.
Before your treatment starts, the radiation team will take careful measurements to determine the correct angles for aiming the radiation beams and the proper dose of radiation. This planning session, called simulation, usually includes getting imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans.
The type of radiation therapy used to treat AML is called external beam radiation. The treatment is much like getting an x-ray, but the radiation is much stronger. The procedure itself is painless. The number of treatments you get depends on the reason radiation therapy is being used. Each treatment lasts only a few minutes, although the setup time − getting you into place for treatment – usually takes longer.
The possible side effects of radiation therapy depend on where the radiation is aimed.
To learn more about how radiation is used to treat cancer, see Radiation Therapy.
To learn about some of the side effects listed here and how to manage them, see Managing Cancer-related Side Effects.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Larson RA, Uy G. Acute myeloid leukemia: Induction therapy in medically fit adults. UpToDate. 2024. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acute-myeloid-leukemia-induction-therapy-in-medically-fit-adults on June 4, 2024.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines): Acute Myeloid Leukemia. V.3.2024. Accessed at https://www.nccn.org on June 3, 2024.
Last Revised: June 5, 2024
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