Medical Treatments in India with Best Doctors in Best Indian Hospitals.
Leukemia or Leukemia can be classified as group of cancers that originate in Bone marrow and are characterized with abnormally high number of white blood cells . These while blood cells are not fully developed WBCs and are termed as blasts or leukemia cells. These abnormal WBC suppress the production of normal blood cells that ultimately culminate in anemia and other symptoms.
What are various Types of Leukemia :
Leukemia or Blood Cancers can be classified into sub-types depending on the time of disease progression and type of cell that has undergone the genetic mutation.
When the cells are multiplied rapidly and the onset of disease is fast it is termed as acute whereas when the onset of disease is slow and the symptoms are barely noticeable it is called chronic.
When the genetic mutation occurs in the myeloid cells the leukemia is termed as Myelogenous Leukemia whereas when the lymphocytes undergo the genetic mutation the leukemia is called lymphocytic leukemia. Depending on these characteristics disease Leukemia can be classified in four major sub-types.
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL )
In this series about various Blood Cancers ( Leukemias) and their treatment in India ,The first one is about Acute Myelogenous Leukemia ( AML).
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML):
AML is the mutation in immature blood cells on the myeloid lines. In AML Patients there is an over production of immature WBCs ( Blasts) ,which occupy the majority of Bone marrow and hinders the production of normal blood cells. As there is reduced production of normal blood cells ,AML patient will be prone to anemia , bruising and bleeding easily and recurrent infections. The leukemic blast cells eventually overflow into blood stream and can get accumulated in other organs like liver,spleen,lymph nodes,central nervous system ( spinal chord and brain) and testicles.
Signs and Symptoms of AML:
What are Risk factors associated with AML :
Following factors are identified as higher risk for developing AML.
1.Smoking:
Smoking is the only proven life style related factor for AML. Researchers attribute about 20% of AML cases to smoking tobacco.
2. Radiation:
High dose radiation exposure (As in case of a survivor of Atomic bomb blast or nuclear reactor accident) are at a higher risk of developing AML most often about 6 to 8 years of exposure. Radiation treatment for cancer also increases the risk of AML. The risk varies with the amount of radiation and the treated body part.
Continuous Low level radiation exposure like from X Ray machines and CT scan machines are also linked to risk of developing AML in foetus in formative years , that is the reason doctors practice to limit the exposure in children and pregnant women.
3.Chemical Exposure:
Long term exposure to certain chemicals like Benzene is considered a risk factor for AML. Benzene is a solvent used in the rubber industry, oil refineries,chemical plants, shoe manufacturing, and petroleum-related industries, and is also found in cigarette smoke, gasoline and motor vehicle exhaust, and some glues, cleaning products,detergents, art supplies, and paints.Unconfirmed researches also link heavy exposure to formaldehyde as a risk factor for AML.
4. Chemotherapy Drugs:
People who have undergone chemotherapy with medicines like cyclophosphamide,procarbazine,
chlorambucil,melphelan,busalphan,cisplatin,carboplatin,epirubicin and doxorubicin for treatment of other cancers are also at a higher risk of acquiring AML later on.
5. Certain Blood Disorders:
Certain blood disorders are also associated with increased risk of AML. Chronic Myeloproliferative disorders put the sufferer at a higher risk for AML.
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) may develop into AML if not treated in time.
6.Genetic Disorders:
People born with certain genetic disorders are at a higher risk of developing AML. Genetic disorders like Fanconi Anemia,Bloom Syndrome,Kostmann syndrome,Neurofibromatosis Type 1,Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, Le Fraumeni Syndrome increases the risk of AML.
7.Age and Gender:
Although AML can occur at any age but men above 50 are at a higher risk of AML. AML is more common in men than women.HOW AML is diagnosed ?
Once you approach a doctor for your sickness and symptoms usually after an abnormal CBC (Complete Blood count ),doctor will take your family history , do a physical examination paying special attention to your eyes,mouth,skin,lymph nodes,liver ,spleen and will look for areas of bleeding and bruising or any possible infection. Your risk of Having a Leukemia will also be assessed by the doctor. If your doctor suspects your sickness to be leukemia,he will order a CBC and peripheral blood smear.
Depending on these test reports your doctor may refer you to a Hematologist ( An specialists of blood diseases).
At CMCS Health ,we are associated with well qualified and experienced Hematologists for best treatment of our global guests.
A hematologist will have to diagnose your disease ,staging of disease and suitable treatment options if you are suffering from AML.
The Following tests and scans will be recommended by your Hematologist for confirmation of diagnosis,staging and deciding about treatment course.
Depending on these test reports your doctor may refer you to a Hematologist ( An specialists of blood diseases).
At CMCS Health ,we are associated with well qualified and experienced Hematologists for best treatment of our global guests.
A hematologist will have to diagnose your disease ,staging of disease and suitable treatment options if you are suffering from AML.
The Following tests and scans will be recommended by your Hematologist for confirmation of diagnosis,staging and deciding about treatment course.
Bone Marrow Tests:
The samples for the two tests are usually taken from the back of pelvic ( hip) bone, which are carried out simultaneously.These two tests are :
- Bone Marrow Biopsy
- Bone marrow aspiration
The other tests and screenings are:
- CSF ( Cerebro-spinal fluid) samples are collected through a Lumber puncture or spinal tap if your doctor suspects that the disease may have spread to brain and spinal chord.It is also done for administering the chemotherapy drugs either to prevent the leukemic cell invasion of CSF or treat the spread of disease to brain and spinal chord.
- Routine microscopic examination
- Cytochemistry
- Flow cytometry
- Florescent in situ hybridization ( FISH)
- Polymerase chain reaction ( PCR )
There may be other imaging tests recommended by your treating doctor ,not for diagnosing AML but for staging and gauging the spread of disease. These tests may include chest X rays,CT scan ,CT guided needle biopsy,PET/CT, MRI and Ultrasound.
Treatment Of AML:
Treatment of AML is mainly chemotherapy , sometimes chemo is given along with a targeted therapy drug, Bone Marrow transplant or Stem cell transplant are also used for patients who are in higher risk of relapse of disease.In special circumstances Radiation therapy and surgery is also combined with Chemotherapy.
Although AML usually affects ageing adults but it may also affects people pf any age and children too. For treatment of pediatric AML at CMCS Health we are associated with best Pediatrics BMT specialists and hemato Oncologists.
For Any Queries regarding medical treatment of Leukemia or Blood Cancers in India with Best Indian Specialist Hematologists at well equipped Indian Hospitals please contact at:
