Precision cancer therapy for leukemia patients

Leukemia is caused when the number of white blood cells in the body increases beyond normal. It is often considered a children’s disease, but it is actually 10 times more common in adults.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is a leader in blood cancer care, and we offer expertise and treatment options – including revolutionary new therapies – to help patients triumph over leukemia. The first step in caring for you begins the moment you call. 

Leukemia begins in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside the bones where blood cells are produced. It can be an acute disease – developing quickly and making patients feel sick right away – or a chronic one – which progresses slowly and may not cause symptoms for months or years. Leukemia can affect white blood cells – the lymphocytes – or all the body’s other blood cells. The 4 major types of leukemia are:

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

• Complex care for aggressive leukemias requires advanced expertise. Our leukemia specialists are national leaders and treat only leukemia. Our nurse navigators will walk with you through your entire cancer treatment journey at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, answering your questions and helping coordinate appointments, testing and more.
• As an academic medical center and a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, we offer the latest techniques and treatments to fight cancer and reduce side effects. Studies show that receiving leukemia treatment at an academic, high-volume, NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center results in better outcomes for patients.
• Early diagnosis and rapid testing and diagnostics are essential to getting treatment started as quickly as possible. We have the most up-to-date diagnostic tests available, and your test results will be read by experts who specialize in evaluating leukemia testing.
• We provide customized, coordinated care. Every patient is unique, with unique circumstances and unique goals. Our doctors, nurses and other staff collaborate closely to develop the treatment plan that best suits your needs and communicate frequently to remain up to date on your care and progress.
• We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with community health providers. Together, we can keep as much of patients' cancer care close to home as possible, yet specialty experience and resources are readily available. It is our goal to deliver both quality and convenience.
• Our academic culture and NCI comprehensive designation together earn our organization the opportunity to participate in clinical trials often not available elsewhere in the region. This provides patients with access to the latest clinical trials that offer hope and may lead to cures.