|  | A particular problem in acute leukaemia (especially acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) is that cancerous cells can ‘hide’ in the fluid in the central nervous system (CNS). Many chemotherapy drugs cannot reach these cells so they can remain there, leading to a risk of the disease relapsing.
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Quite often, therapy is given as a preventative measure to prevent relapse. Unfortunately, not much of the chemotherapy given intrvenously or orally can penetrate the CNS so treatment also involves administration of drugs directly into the fluid surrounding the spine. |
Some patients also receive cranial irradiation (radiotherapy to the head) although this is becoming less common. In this procedure, X-rays are used to kill the hiding leukaemia cells. If you have radiotherapy you may well get a condition called somnolence. This is characterised by nausea, depression, lethargy and drowsiness. It occurs during and after treatment and may get worse about four to six weeks after completion of treatment, but don’t worry this side effect resolves itself within a few weeks.
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| | "I got very severe headaches from my radiotherapy and a horrible taste in my mouth. My short-term memory was terrible too because of the treatment but luckily it is much better now. It was also pretty embarrassing, walking around with permanent pen marks on my face, like someone had done a dot-to-dot on my face while I was asleep and I didn’t know!"
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