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There are several different types of leukemia medications, depending on the type of leukemia and how aggressive a patient is willing to be treated. Cytotoxic or cell killing chemotherapy is the most aggressive treatment that kills the rapidly dividing leukemia cells. This type of leukemia medication tends to have the most side effects because many normal tissues can be damaged as innocent bystanders. However, this high risk therapy can sometimes lead to a cure. Some types of leukemias are caused by or associated with particular genetic mutations or abnormalities. The most modern therapies are pills that are designed to target these specific mutations. These treatments more specifically target the leukemia cells while leaving the normal cells alone and tend to have fewer side effects. These are commonly used in chronic leukemias that are often considered incurable, but quite treatable.
