Leukaemia
The advances in treatment continue
The outlook for those affected by leukaemia used to be bad, but the past 20 to 30 years has seen enormous advances in treatment. Just about all cases now have a much longer life expectancy and significant numbers, especially among affected children, will be cured of the disease.
What is leukaemia?
Leukaemia is a disease of the parts of the body that make blood. It affects more adults than children and men more often than women.
There are 3 main types of blood cells.
- Red cells that carry oxygen.
- White cells which help fight infection.
- Platelets that help the blood to clot.
In leukaemia the body makes too many white cells, many of them abnormal. This results in:
- infections, because the abnormal white cells can't do their usual job properly;
- anaemia (the white cells flood the system, reducing the number of red cells); and
- bleeding (as with red cells, the production of platelet drops).
Types of leukaemia
Leukaemia comes in 2 main forms, acute and chronic.
Acute leukaemia happens suddenly and progresses rapidly. The 2 types of acute leukaemia are acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (which is most common in childhood, especially between the ages of 12 months and 4 years) and acute myeloid leukaemia (which occurs more in adults). Before treatment was possible, 90 per cent of acute cases (many of them children) would die within a year. Nowadays, 80 per cent of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia will be cured.
The main symptoms are tiredness, looking pale, a tendency to bruise and susceptibility to infections.
Chronic leukaemia most often affects middle-aged to older adults and may produce little in the way of symptoms for many years. Again there are 2 types, myeloid and lymphocytic. With chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, treatment may not be needed. When it is, life expectancy can still be many more years. Chronic myeloid leukaemia may also be stable for many years, but eventually turns into an aggressive, life-threatening disease.
What are the causes of leukaemia?
Nobody knows what causes leukaemia. Several factors seem to make it more likely. These include:
- exposure to X-rays and other forms of radiation (for example atomic bombs);
- certain chemicals, such as benzol (benzene) vapours; and
- certain viral infections, which are suspected because of their effect in animals.
What treatments are available?
The treatment of leukaemia is usually with chemotherapy — the use of powerful drugs that kill, or slow the growth of, abnormal cells. These drugs are often used in combination with each other for short bursts of treatment. Because of their effect on normal cells they produce side effects such as nausea (feeling sick) and hair loss. Once the course of treatment is over the side effects usually disappear rapidly.
Other treatments may include radiotherapy, blood transfusions and bone marrow and stem cell transplants.
As with most illnesses, early detection can make all the difference. If you or one of your children seems excessively tired or pale, or tends to bruise easily, see your GP.
Last Reviewed: 25 July 2008
