7+3 Induction Chemotherapy — for Acute Leukaemia

The admission is long because the bone marrow suppression caused by the drugs takes several weeks to resolve. While blood counts are very low, your family member cannot independently produce enough red cells, platelets or white cells. Daily monitoring, transfusions and antibiotic cover are all part of what the inpatient admission provides. Leaving before counts have recovered to a safe level would mean going home without the daily safety checks that catch problems early.

No. 7+3 is used specifically for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic leukaemias and lymphomas all require different regimens. Even within AML, a subtype called acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL or M3) is treated with a different approach. Your haematologist will confirm which regimen is appropriate for the specific diagnosis and subtype.

The drugs are given through an IV line and are not painful in the way an injection is. The weeks that follow typically involve fatigue, nausea and mouth sores, as well as the effects of low blood counts — easier bruising, tiredness and vulnerability to infection. Most of these are managed with medicines the ward team will start routinely. Fatigue tends to be most noticeable during nadir, when counts are at their lowest, usually in the second week.

The most significant risks are severe infection and bleeding, both arising from bone marrow suppression. Your family member will be monitored daily with blood tests and will receive transfusions and antibiotics when needed. Anthracyclines also carry a risk to heart function, which is why a cardiac assessment is usually done before induction begins. Your haematologist will explain the specific risks relevant to your family member's individual case.

Not during the main induction period. Blood counts need to recover to a safe level before discharge, and that takes several weeks. The ward team tracks counts daily and will tell you what needs to be achieved before discharge becomes possible. Any exception to this is a medical decision made by the treating team — it is not a standard part of the plan and carries real risk if counts are still very low.

If a first induction does not achieve remission, a second induction using a different regimen is usually considered. The decision depends on the individual's fitness, the AML subtype and the bone marrow assessment findings. This is sometimes called salvage induction. It is a conversation your haematologist will have with you directly if it becomes relevant — and it is not a decision made until the first induction results are fully assessed.