Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Israel: Highly Professional and Timely Assistance

Professor Amos Cohen

Hematologist

Oncohematology is one of the leading areas at the Top Ihilov clinic: a unique team of doctors has been assembled here, and the necessary technical conditions for quality treatment are available. This increases patients' chances of recovery or achieving a state of durable remission: reviews of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Israel demonstrate high results achieved by oncohematologists. Thus, in the treatment of this disease in children, doctors manage to overcome the illness in 85% of cases, while the similar figure for adults is about 40%.

1832

successfully performed operations at the Top Ihilov clinic

30%

of diagnoses made in the CIS countries are refuted at the Top Ihilov clinic

88%

of patients after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia returned to their normal lives

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Table of Contents

Treatment Methods

Diagnosis

Prices

In order to quickly stop the progression of the disease and prevent severe complications, the doctors at Top Ihilov use the most modern types of treatment, new generation drugs, and high-tech procedures. Thanks to 100% accurate examinations that take only a few days, oncohematologists have a precise picture of the disease and prescribe the most appropriate therapy. Typically, a team of professionals from various specialties—transplantology, hematology, pulmonology, and so on—are involved in the treatment.

With similar therapy effectiveness in Germany and Israel, the cost of treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Israel is more moderate—this is another argument in favor of choosing to undergo therapy in this country.

Treatment Methods

Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Israeli clinics is conducted according to individually tailored programs based on international protocols. The choice of therapeutic agents takes into account the following factors:

• Type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) – based on the maturity of blast cells, distinguishing between B-lineage or T-lineage ALL
• Patient's age – children require the selection of more gentle drugs and procedures
• Overall health status of the patient
• Individual characteristics of ALL progression – for example, the number of white blood cells in the blood at the time of arrival for treatment, the presence or absence of abnormal cells in the cerebrospinal (liquor) fluid, and so on.

Since ALL is one of the most dangerous diseases, where cancer cells quickly affect multiple organs and tissues, it is extremely important to start treatment as promptly as possible with highly qualified specialists. It should be noted that this disease requires prolonged therapy, which will take more than one month. The Top Ihilov clinic employs the following modern treatment methods:

Chemotherapy. The aggressive nature of ALL requires the immediate initiation of chemotherapy right after diagnosis. The first course is called induction chemotherapy, and its goal is to stop the progression of the disease and the spread of the cancer process as quickly as possible, destroying the maximum possible number of cancer cells and achieving remission. Typically, a combination of two or more cytostatic drugs is prescribed, and their intake is combined with steroid treatment. In 80% of cases, Israeli oncologists manage to achieve the desired results. The next course is consolidating chemotherapy, which is needed to consolidate the results and prolong remission for as long as possible. Typically, the patient is prescribed one of the drugs used in the previous stage that has proven to be the most effective. In ALL, atypical cells can develop in the brain and spinal cord. To localize this process, drugs may be administered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid via puncture.

Although the new generation chemotherapy drugs used at Top Ihilov are much less toxic than those widely used previously, it is still not possible to completely avoid side effects. Therefore, doctors closely monitor the patient's condition and prescribe medications to reduce the risk of complications.

Bone Marrow Transplantation. The vast majority of ALL patients require this procedure to increase their chances of recovery. Through bone marrow transplantation, doctors aim to restore the impaired function of blood cell production in the bone marrow. The transplant material can be taken from the patient themselves (autologous transplantation), but more often donor material is used—allogeneic transplantation. A donor can be a close relative, and if their biological material is not suitable for transplantation, doctors select material from a bone marrow bank. The procedure itself resembles a blood transfusion, after which the patient is placed in a specialized box where sterile conditions are created. While the bone marrow is not engrafted, the patient remains in this box, as they are extremely vulnerable to infections and viruses during this period. Continuous medical monitoring is conducted in the box.

Biotherapy. A new promising direction in the treatment of ALL, whose main task is to stimulate the patient's immune system to generate an immune response to cancer. Monoclonal antibody drugs—special proteins that recognize cancer cells and mark them—are introduced into the patient's body. This signals the immune system that the marked cells are dangerous to the body and should be destroyed. Biotherapy does not harm normal blood cells and yields positive results in the therapy of patients at all stages.

Radiotherapy. Its application is justified in cases where there is a buildup of abnormal cells in the brain or spinal cord. Radiation therapy at Top Ihilov is conducted using modern linear accelerators that can focus ionizing rays with an accuracy of 0.5 mm in the designated area. Modern equipment allows for a reduction in the number of sessions and their duration without losing treatment effectiveness.

Diagnosis

The diagnostic center's equipment and the latest diagnostic technologies enable specialists at Top Ihilov to conduct a complete, 100% accurate examination in a short time. Within three days, the patient undergoes the entire diagnostic complex, and the doctors are ready to start therapy.

First Day

Meeting with the attending physician, patient examination, and study of the medical history by the oncologist.

Second Day

Completion of all laboratory and instrumental studies. Since the diagnostic schedule is pre-coordinated with the doctors, the patient does not sit in a general queue outside the office. At the strictly appointed time, they undergo the following studies:

• Blood test to detect immature leukocytes and determine the balance of individual blood elements
• Biochemical blood test
• Peripheral blood smear analysis
• Bone marrow biopsy for histochemical and cytogenetic analysis
• Blood test for tumor markers
• CT, MRI to assess the spread of the process to various organs and tissues.

Third Day

Receiving results, establishing a final diagnosis, and developing a treatment program. At Top Ihilov, discussions of treatment options are conducted at a council, and decisions are made collectively.

For those patients who cannot come for treatment at the clinic, there is a consultation service via Skype. The consultation is conducted by the most experienced and qualified oncohematologists at Top Ihilov. The patient has the opportunity to receive an expert assessment of the validity of the diagnosis made at home, the adequacy of treatment there, as well as recommendations for the most optimal method of therapy. To obtain a consultation via Skype, it is necessary to submit a request for it on the clinic's website.

How Much Does Treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cost in Israel

Advantages of Treatment at Top Ihilov

• Experience and high professionalism of medical staff
• Selection of the most effective types of therapy
• Use of new generation drugs, high-tech procedures, and innovative methods
• Moderate prices
• Comfortable conditions for staying in the clinic.

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