Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Mayo Clinic offers a brief introduction to acute myelogenous leukemia, and explains the meaning of each portion of the condition’s name.

National Marrow Donor Program provides a well-written overview of AML, offering a more in-depth description of the types of cells affected and their function.

eMedicine offers a comprehensive explanatory article about AML, geared towards physicians.

Mayo Clinic lists the symptoms a person with AML can experience, including weight loss, bone pain, fatigue and fever.

The American Cancer Society has an in-depth discussion of AML’s symptoms and the different tests doctors use to diagnose it.

Adam.com explains what happens during a bone marrow aspiration, in which part of the marrow is removed so doctors can examine it. Another page describes a similar procedure, a bone marrow biopsy. 

The National Cancer Institute briefly describes the two treatment phases for adults with AML, and outlines the four standard treatment options: radiation therapy, medication, chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

Cancer Backup is a UK nonprofit that provides cancer information. This page explains the different types of transplants, such as receiving stem cells from a donor or your own.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center discusses some of the investigational studies that are underway to combat AML.

ClinicalTrials.gov is a clearinghouse operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health that provides a list of research clinical trials currently underway to test experimental treatments for AML. To learn more about clinical trials, speak to your doctor, and read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s guide.

The American Cancer Society describes the treatment procedures for children with AML. The society recommends children get treatment at hospitals with experience in this type of leukemia “because of the intensity of treatment and the risk of serious complications.”

CureSearch has a directory of hospitals that are part of the Children’s Oncology Group, a worldwide group of health professionals dedicated to treating childhood cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 90 percent of children diagnosed with cancer are treated at these centers.

The National Cancer Institute answers questions about specialized pediatric cancer centers in the Children’s Oncology Group, their standards and clinical trials.

The National Cancer Institute has a searchable directory of cancer centers that the agency recognizes for their excellence. Be sure to click on either “Comprehensive Cancer Center” or “Cancer Center” that provides patient services.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society discusses the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in this 13-page PDF document. Speak to your doctor before using any CAM, as other treatments could affect your conventional treatment.

ClinicalTrials.gov is a clearinghouse operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health that lists clinical trials currently underway to research AML. To learn more about clinical trials, speak to your doctor and read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's guide.

Leukemia Survivor is a blog about a 12-year-old girl who was diagnosed with AML in 2006, and how she fought the disease. Scroll down to “Yam’s Story as She Wrote It” on the right side of the page to read her first-person account.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a discussion board called Living with AML. People post about loved ones who are being treated, or ask about hospitals and treatments.