How often will I be tested for leukemia after remission?

How often will I be tested for leukemia after remission?

Noam Z. Drazin (Hematologist & Oncologist, Cedars-Sinai Medical Group) gives expert video advice on: Should I see an oncologist or a leukemia specialist?; Are there any proven alternative methods for treating leukemia?; How can I find out more about leukemia? and more...

Once patients achieve a remission and are undergoing further consolidation therapy and/or maintenance therapy for their leukaemia, they require periodic bone marrow biopsies and/or blood testing depending on their disease and depending on their disease status. So, I'm not able to personally give a particular regimen or follow up for all patients with leukaemia. The general rule of thumb is that in a patient with remission, you check bone marrow biopsies every six months, up to a total of two years, and then probably every year, up to a total of five years. When it comes to how often I see my patients when they've been diagnosed, and/or cured or in remission from leukaemia, I see patients every three months for the first two years once their chemotherapy or active chemotherapy is completed, then every six months to five years, and then yearly after that.