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Department: Artemis Cancer Institute
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Leukaemia
The body is made up of many types of cells. In normal course, cells grow, divide, and produce more cells to keep the body healthy. However, at times, this process may not function properly and cells may become abnormal, forming more cells, in an uncontrolled manner. Leukaemia is a cancer of 'blood cells.' It is commonly known as blood cancer. In this cancer the bone marrow starts producing abnormal blood cells, which grow at a very fast rate and outnumber the other blood cells like normal white blood cells, red blood cells (cells that carry oxygen to all parts of the body) and platelets (cells that help form blood clots that control bleeding). These abnormal blood cells are knows as leukaemia cells.
TYPES OF LEUKAEMIA
There are various types of leukaemias, which can be broadly divided into 2 types : Acute Leukaemia : Here the symptoms become evident early and therapy will begin immediately after diagnosis.
Chronic Leukaemia : Here the symptoms are not evident early and the patient may not require immediate treatment. Treatment will start once the symptoms become evident and he will be kept under maintenance therapy.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LEUKAEMIA ?
Since blood cells travel throughout the body, this means the leukaemia cells are also travelling through the body. Therefore, symptoms can erupt anywhere, depending on the body part where the leukaemia cells have accumulated.
Some of the common symptoms to look out for are :
HOW IS LEUKAEMIA DIAGNOSED ?
If the symptoms suggest leukaemia, your doctor will ask for a detailed medical history and will do a physical examination before conducting any of the following tests : Blood count : This is done to ascertain the increase in the number of white blood cells, which is the most evident sign. Blood chemistry : This test will reveal whether the liver and kidneys have been affected. Bone Marrow Examination : It is the most certain way of diagnosing leukaemia. After administering local anaesthesia, your doctor will use a needle to extract a sample of the bone marrow, which will be examined under a microscope to spot leukaemia cells.
HOW IS LEUKAEMIA TREATED ?
There are multiple options for treating leukaemia, depending on the type and extent of the cancer and general health of the patient. Sometimes, a combination of treatments might also be required.
Chemotherapy This is the mainstay of leukaemia treatment. Here the medicine is given through an intra venous (IV) line or orally to destroy leukaemia cells. Depending on the type of leukaemia, you will receive a single drug or a combination of two or more drugs.
The treatment of acute leukaemia involves three phases of treatment :
Remission Induction / Induction : This first part of treatment is directed at getting rid of all visible leukaemia cells. This intensive therapy, which usually takes place in the hospital, typically lasts for several weeks. Remission induction usually does not destroy all the leukaemia cells, as a small number often persists. Without more treatment, called consolidation, the leukaemia is likely to return.
Consolidation (post-remission) therapy : This treatment is given after remission induction, to destroy any remaining leukaemia cells and to prevent a relapse.
Maintenance therapy : It involves giving low doses of chemotherapy for few years after induction and consolidation courses to prevent relapse.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill the leukaemia cells. Radiation treatment is sometimes used to treat leukaemia that has spread to the brain and spinal fluid or to the testicles. Radiation to several parts of the body is often an important part of treatment before a bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is done. It is also used, though rarely, in an emergency to reduce the size of a tumour, if it is pressing on the trachea (windpipe).
Stem Cell Transplantation
Under this therapy, the cancer is treated with high doses of drugs, radiation, or sometimes both, depending on the level of treatment required. This destroys the cancerous blood cells. Then a stem cell transplant is done. Stem cells are primal cells with the ability to multiply and differentiate into a wide range of specialised cells. The stem cells may come from a donor or from the patient's body itself. These stem cells give rise to healthy blood cells that replace the cells destroyed by drugs and radiation or both.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE TREATMENT ?
It is hard to limit the effects of treatment so that only cancer cells are removed or destroyed. Because treatment also damages healthy cells and tissues, therefore, it causes some side effects too. Some of the common side effects of the therapies are : tiredness, skin reactions (such as a rash or redness) in the treated areas, loss of appetite, susceptibility to infections, bruising or bleeding easily, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting and hair loss. But all these side effects are manageable and your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication to help you get over these side effects.
PAIN MANAGEMENT
The management of pain is an integral part of a cancer therapy. Medications are the cornerstone of cancer pain treatment and their use is aimed at providing the greatest pain relief possible, with the fewest number of side effects and the most ease of administration. Your doctor will prescribe a medication that ensures maximum pain relief. Sometimes your doctor might recommend some interventional procedures like surgery and / or injections.
FOLLOW UP CARE
In cancer treatment, follow up care is an essential element of the overall treatment plan. Regular checkups will be advised to detect any changes in your health as early as possible.
CANCER CARE AT ARTEMIS
At Artemis Health Institute, state-of-the-art facilities are available for cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow up care and rehabilitation. These include advance imaging technologies such as PET scan, DWIBS and 3TMRI for diagnosing cancer. The hospital is also equipped with state-of-the-art radiation therapy such as Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and Brachytherapy.
In temporary brachytherapy, the radioactive material is placed inside or near a tumour for a specific amount of time and then withdrawn. In temporary brachytherapy, a delivery device, such as a catheter, needle or applicator is placed into the tumour using fluoroscopy, ultrasound or CT to help position them. The physician may insert the radioactive material at the same time remotely through the delivery device, and later remove the material and delivery device. Temporary brachytherapy can be administered at a high-dose rate (HDR).
AHI has HDR Brachytherapy from Nucletron, Model Microselectron HDR.X.
Diseases:-
The oncologists at AHI are equipped to treat various kinds of cancers, including but not limited to:
- Larynx
- Colorectal Cancer
- Hodgkin's Disease
- Leukaemia
- Prostate Cancer
- Oesophagus Cancer
- Oral Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
Special Care Units / Diagnostic Equipment / Facilities
- Diffusion Weighted Whole Body Imaging with Background Body Signal (DWIBS)
- 3 Tesla MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- Mammography System
- PET Scan
- Advanced CT Scan (64-slice CT)
- PET-CT Fusion Technology
- Dual Head Gamma Camera
- Brachytherapy
- Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) - the first in North India
Team of Specialists:
- Dr Ranga Rao Consultant- Medical OncologyView Profile
- Dr. Deep Goel, Gastrointestinal Surgeon Consultant- Surgical OncologyView Profile
- Dr Subodh Pandey Consultant- Radiation OncologistView Profile