Leukaemia, a cancer arising in the tissues that produce blood cells, is a disease that works its way through the body, causing crucial functional problems for the patient. The bone marrow and lymphatic system produce large numbers of white blood cells (WBCs), and leukaemia causes the bone marrow to produce abnormal WBCs, affecting the function of the body’s natural defence against foreign substances. The abnormal cells also interfere with the normal production of red blood cells for transporting oxygen, and with the normal clotting of blood. Most leukaemia is either acute (ALL, AML) or chronic (CLL, CML).
There is no definite cause of leukemia, but there are several risk factors that may put a person at an increased risk of developing the disease, such as exposure to high levels of radiation, certain chemicals (such as benzene), smoking, and genetic disorders, like Down syndrome.
Leukemia is categorised as acute or chronic, depending on how rapidly the disease progresses. Acute leukemia develops quickly, and symptoms can present suddenly, while chronic leukemia progresses more slowly and may have no symptoms for years. Fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, unexplained weight loss, fever, and bone pain are common symptoms of leukemia.
A blood test to check for abnormal white blood cells and often a bone marrow biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer cells is usually diagnostic of leukaemia. Treatment for leukaemia varies depending on the type and stage of the disease. Chemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment for leukaemia and is sometimes combined with radiation therapy. Patients with leukaemia sometimes have bone marrow transplants to replace the damaged cells with healthy cells. Bone marrow transplants are able to cure some types of leukaemia, especially in children. Targeted therapies that attack particular cancer cells are also used.
Thanks to this research, treatments for leukaemia are now more effective. Survival rates are better now than ever, especially for children with acute lymphocytic leukaemia. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment begins, the better the patient’s chances of a full recovery.
