Supportive Naturopathic Management of Long-Term Effects of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment

Abstract

With the number of childhood cancer survivors rising steadily each year,¹ it is important that physicians are adept at managing long-term sequelae of treatment.2 Advances in cancer treatments have significantly increased childhood cancer survival rates since the 1970’s.^1,3 Recent research estimates that 67% of childhood cancer survivors will develop at least one late-onset treatment related adverse effect and in 25% of survivors that side effect may be life-threatening.² Leukemia is the most commonly diagnosed childhood cancer (32% of all cases), specifically acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), which most commonly occurs before the age of five.^1,3 This article will discuss the importance of monitoring long-term sequelae from the treat-ment of survivors of ALL and review current literature on safe and effective naturopathic interventions for managing side effects of conven-tional ALL treatment and potential long-term complications.