Blood cancer treatment depends on the type and the extent of the disease. The different types of treatment are chemotherapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplantation or combination of treatments.

1. Chemotherapy: A patient might be given a single drug or a combination of two or more drugs. Chemotherapy may be given by mouth or by injection into a vein. It may also be given through a catheter which is a thin and flexible tube placed in a large vein. The drug is injected through the catheter.

Chemotherapy could also be given by a drug injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. This method is used when drugs given by injection or mouth do not reach cells in the brain or spinal cord. Mostly chemotherapy is given in cycles; first the treatment, then a recovery and then again a treatment. Intrathecal chemotherapy is given to reach blood cancer cells present in the central nervous system.

Chronic myeloid leukemia is treated by a new type of treatment called targeted therapy. Drugs or other substances are used to identify cancer cells and without any harm to normal cells.

2. Biological therapy: This therapy is given by injection into a vein. Blood cancer treatment by biological therapy improves the body.s natural defenses against cancer. The cancer cells in the blood and bone marrow are killed. Special immune cells and proteins are used to stimulate the immune system of the body.

3. Radiation therapy: In radiotherapy or radiation therapy high-energy X-rays are used to kill cancer cells. Large machines are used to direct radiation to the spleen, brain or other parts of the body. Radiation directed to the whole body is also given to some patients.

4. Stem cell transplantation: In blood cancer treatment by stem cell transplant high doses of drugs or radiation are given to a patient. These high doses destroy cancer cells and also normal blood cells in the bone marrow. Healthy stem cells are then placed through a flexible tube in a vein in the neck or chest from which new blood cells develop. The different types of stem cell transplantation are for blood cancer treatment is:
a. Bone marrow transplantation: In this transplantation bone marrow is replaced.
b. Peripheral stem cell transplantation: In this type of transplantation blood forming cells are replaced.
c. Umbilical cord blood transplantation
d. Autologous stem cell transplantation: The patient.s own stem cells are used for the transplant. The stem cells are removed and frozen and stored. After the patient receives chemotherapy or radiation therapy the stem cells are thawed and transplanted back to the patient.
e. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation: In this type, a healthy stem cell is used from the donor. Blood tests are done to make sure that the donor.s cells match with patient.s cells. Normally the stem cell of a close relative like a sibling or a parent is used.
f. Syngeneic stem cell transplant: In this type of treatment of blood cancer, stem cell from the patient.s healthy identical twin is used.