Overview
Leukaemia is a form of cancer that arises in the bone marrow, causing an uncontrolled production of abnormal white blood cells. There are two forms of leukaemia, acute and chronic.
Acute leukaemia comes on suddenly, often within days or weeks. It progresses quickly and needs to be treated urgently.
Chronic leukaemia develops more slowly, often over many months or years.
What are the Types of Acute Leukaemia?
Based on the type of white blood cells involved:
- Acute Myeloid Leukaemia: Myeloid cells perform different functions, such as fighting bacterial infections and defending the body against parasites.
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Lymphocytes are immune cells that play a part in fighting infections by producing antibodies.
Causes
Who is at Risk?
Most patients do not have any identifiable risk. However, the more common risk factors include:
- Previous history of other haematological diseases such as myelodysplastic syndrome, myeoproliferative neoplsms, etc.
- Previous exposure to intense radiation and certain chemicals through treatments of other cancers
- Genetic abnormalities such as down syndrome
Symptoms of Acute Leukaemia
- Symptoms of anemia such as tiredness and breathlessness with mild exertion
- Having more infections than usual, because of a lack of healthy white blood cells
- Unusual bleeding caused by too few platelets. This may include bruising, heavy periods in women, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and blood spots or rashes on the skin
Detection & Treatment
Diagnosis
A series of tests will be done by your doctor, to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of acute leukaemia. These tests may include:
- Bone marrow examination. Tissue and fluid are taken from your hip bone to determine the diagnosis, type of leukaemia and the outlook of the cancer. The process is conducted under local anaesthesia and takes 20 minutes.
- Blood tests. These are taken throughout your treatment to monitor how you are responding and how effective your treatment is.
The test results will help your doctor prescribe a suitable treatment based on your condition.
Prognosis
The prognosis, or the likely outcome, of acute leukaemia depends on various factors such as:
- Age at diagnosis
- Specific subtype of acute leukaemia
- Genetic alterations seen inside leukaemia cells
- Response to initial treatment
Treatment Methods
Chemotherapy
- Drugs given orally or injected into the veins to kill leukaemia cells
- Multiple cycles are administered at regular intervals to allow time for the body to recover in between cycles
Targeted Therapy
- Drugs that are targeted towards the leukaemia cells
- Can be used alone or together with chemotherapy
Bone Marrow/ Stem Cell Transplant
- This procedure replaces leukaemia and normal cells killed by chemotherapy with healthy donor stem cells which will develop new immune cells to continue fighting against the few remaining leukaemia cells in your body
- Stem cells are usually taken from a healthy donor who may or may not be related to you
- In many acute leukaemia, stem cell transplant is the only way to cure the disease
Care Management
Leukaemia Befriending Group
In Leukaemia Befriending Group, survivors reach out to newly diagnosed patients who wish to seek support and information from those with similar experiences. For more information, you can contact TTSH Medical Social Worker at 6357 8222.
Specialties & Services
