Leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. The overproduction of abnormal white blood cells characterises it. These cells impair the body's ability to fight infections, leading to anaemia, bleeding problems, and other complications. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, frequent infections, and easy bruising. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and sometimes bone marrow transplants to restore healthy blood cell production.

Types of Leukaemia

The four main types of leukaemia are:

Acute lymphoblastic (ALL)
Acute myeloid (AML)
Chronic lymphocytic (CLL)
Chronic myeloid (CML).

The Current Leaflet Contains Information For Acute Leukemias

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

ALL is a cancer of the white blood cells. It occurs when an overproduction of immature lymphocytes, called lymphoblasts (sometimes called blast cells), occurs. It occurs most frequently in children under 15; in adults, it is more common between the ages of 15 and 25 and in older people. The exact cause of ALL is not known, but research is ongoing to find out. Like other cancers, it is not infectious and can’t be passed on to others.

Symptoms of Acute Leukaemia

Some of the most prominent symptoms of Acute Leukaemia are -

Pale skin
Prolonged bleeding or unusual bleeding from minor cuts, gums, or heavy periods in women.
Feeling generally unwell and run down.
Having a fever and sweats.
Aches and discomfort in bones, joints
Raised bluish-purple areas under the skin - due to leukaemia cells in the skin.
Swollen gums caused by leukaemia cells in the gums.
Shortness of breath: during normal physical activity
Loss of appetite and weight loss

How Leukaemia is Diagnosed?

Most people with ALL are referred to a specialist for treatment. After taking a full medical history and complete physical examination, the specialist orders a blood test (CBC, Peripheral Smear) to check the numbers of all blood cells. A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are performed if the blood test suggests leukaemia. It is the most important test to find out the exact type of leukaemia you have and gives information that the doctors need to plan the best treatment for you. Several tests are then carried out on the bone marrow, such as immune-phenotyping (Type of blood cell that has turned cancerous) and chromosome analysis (cytogenetics).

Treatment Overview

Treatment for ALL aims to destroy the leukaemia cells and allow the bone marrow to work normally again. Various factors, such as ALL types, chromosomal abnormalities, age, and general health, are considered while planning your treatment. Chemotherapy (drug treatment) is the main treatment given for ALL. However, the chemotherapy drugs can’t get into the fluid around the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid – CSF), so they need to be injected directly into the fluid through a lumbar puncture called INTRATHECAL chemotherapy. Treatment is divided into three phases.

Induction: This is the initial intensive phase of treatment aimed at destroying as many leukaemia cells as possible. It usually achieves a remission of the disease.

Intensification (Consolidation): After the induction phase, more chemotherapy is given to increase the chance of destroying any remaining leukaemia cells that cannot be seen in the blood or bone marrow.

Maintenance: This less intensive course of chemotherapy reduces the risk of the leukaemia returning after treatment.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

AML is an overproduction of an early myeloid cell. In most types of AML, the leukaemia cells are immature white cells. But, in some less common types of AML, too many immature platelets or red blood cells are made.

Treatment Overview

Treatment for AML aims to destroy the leukaemia cells and allow the bone marrow to work normally again. When there is no sign of leukaemia and the marrow works normally, this is called remission. For some people with AML, the remission lasts indefinitely, and the person is said to be cured. You must have access to a specialist called a hemato-oncologist.

Types of AML Treatment

Doctors use several types of treatment for adults with AML, some at different stages:

Chemotherapy. Most patients with AML start chemotherapy right away.
Stem cell transplantation. It may be used with a second phase of chemotherapy.
Other drug therapies. Drugs such as arsenic and ATRA are used to treat AML (subtype M3).

Conclusion

If you're 60 or older, your treatment may vary from standard approaches. For instance, your body may not be able to tolerate toxic chemotherapy drugs, or you may have other ailments that are more common as you age. If your cancer has returned (relapsed) or it's still present after you finish standard therapy (refractory leukaemia), you may have a different treatment approach than the first time around.