How to Recognize the Signs of Leukemia - Leukemia Treatment in India

Cancer occurs when there is uncontrolled abnormal cell growth and development. It disturbs the normal life span of cells wherein they are formed, mature, carry out their intended function, die, and are replaced by new cells which are constantly regenerated in the body to maintain normal cellular function. Cancer represents the disturbance of this process.

Leukemia symptoms vary, depending on the type of leukemia. Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Persistent fatigue, weakness
• Frequent or severe infections
• Losing weight without trying
• Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
• Easy bleeding or bruising
• Recurrent nosebleeds
• Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)
• Excessive sweating, especially at night
• Bone pain or tenderness

Bone marrow

Bone marrow is a spongy material that is found inside the bones, and it produces all of the blood cells. It also produces vital cells called stem cells that can create other specialised cells that carry out essential functions. These specialised cells are of three types:

* Red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body

* White blood cells which help fight infection

* Platelets which help stop bleeding

Acute leukaemia prevents the affected bone marrow from producing stem cells that mature into adult blood cells. Instead it releases numerous immature blood cells called blast cells. The immature white blood cells begin to rapidly disrupt the normal balance of cells in the blood, limiting the presence of red blood cells or platelet cells in the body. This can lead to tiredness and other

symptoms of anaemia, and also increase risk of excessive bleeding. The patient also becomes more vulnerable to infection as the white blood cells are not properly formed and thus ineffective in

fighting bacteria and viruses.

Types of acute leukaemia

There are two main types of white blood cells classified according to the type of white blood cells that are affected by cancer:

Lymphocytes which are mostly used to fight viral infections

Myeloid cells which fight bacterial infections defend the body against parasites and prevent the spread of tissue damage

The two main types of acute leukaemia are:

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which is cancer of the lymphocytes

Acute myeloid leukaemia, which is cancer of the myeloid cells

Acute myeloid leukaemia

It is more common in older people, especially when over 50 years of age, and more common in males than females, though it is not clear why. The causes of acute leukaemia are uncertain, but known risk factors include:

Exposure to high levels of radiation

Exposure to benzene, a chemical that is used in manufacturing and is also found in cigarettes

The lack of healthy blood cells in the blood supply causes most of the symptoms of acute leukaemia, which usually begin slowly before rapidly escalating in severity as the number of blast cells in the blood increases.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

ALL is the most common type of cancer found in children, though it is uncommon on an overall basis. Approximately one in every 2,000 children will develop ALL. The majority of cases develop in the age group of two to five year olds, and 85 per cent develop in children below the age of 15.

Treatment

Treatment for AML involves two stages:

Induction: The aim of the initial stage of treatment is to kill the leukaemia cells in the bone marrow, restore the blood to proper working order and resolve any symptoms that may be present.

Consolidation: This stage aims to kill any remaining leukaemia cells that may be present in the central nervous system.

Treatment for ALL involves three stages:

Induction

Consolidation

Maintenance, which involves taking regular doses of chemotherapy tablets to prevent the leukaemia returning. This seems to be the most effective stage.

Other treatments

The other treatments that are used in some circumstances are:

• Radiotherapy
• Stem cell transplant
• Targeted therapies

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How Bone Marrow Transplant would be done - Bone Marrow Transplant in India

Bone Marrow Transplant atWorld Best Hospitals in India

A large number of foreign patients now come to India for Live Related Organ Transplant Surgery like Kidney Transplants, Liver Transplants and Bone Marrow Transplants. Organ Transplantation is a very complex surgical specialty and requires very high degree of Clinical skills and Medical Technology and Infrastructure. India has now become the most preferred destination for organ transplant procedures. These include Liver, Kidney and Bone marrow transplant surgeries. .Not only the cost is low; the success rate of organ transplant in India is at par with the world's best success rate for organ transplant.

Since Organ Transplantation is a very complex surgical specialty and requires very high degree of Clinical skills and Medical Technology, and Indian surgeons and healthcare has proven its competence, there has been a great surge in the number of medical tourists coming to India for various organ transplants. The Infrastructure and technology used at these best organ transplant hospitals in India is the most sophisticated technology available in the world, which results in better patient recovery, higher success rate, low cost and convenience to the patient.

Bone Marrow Transplant

Stem cells produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In some cases, stem cells in your bone marrow may not be functioning well or need to be destroyed to help treat a disease. If this happens, you will need new stem cells.
During this procedure, healthy stem cells are taken from a donor's:

·         Bone marrow (bone marrow transplant or BMT)

·         Blood (peripheral blood stem cell or PBSC)

The stem cells will be injected into your vein. The new cells travel through the bloodstream to your bone cavities. It may take about a month for the donor stem cells in the bone marrow to begin to function fully. If the transplant is successful, new bone marrow cells will produce healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Stem cell transplantation may be done using:

·         Stem cells that were taken from your own bone marrow or blood and stored

·         Stem cells from a donor

HowBone Marrow Transplant would be done... 

Prior to procedure the donor will be carefully tested to check for diseases. Both you and the donor will be tested to ensure that your tissues are compatible. In order for the transplant to be successful, certain markers, called HLS types, on the blood cells and bone marrow cells must match.

As the recipient, you will be given medicines to suppress your immune system. This is to prevent your body from rejecting the donor stem cells. In the weeks prior to the transplant, you may have to have:

·         Chemotherapy

·         Radiation therapy

This process is called "conditioning." It will rid the body of diseased cells and clear the bone marrow cavities for the new bone marrow.

If the stem cells will be from the donor's bone marrow (BMT), the       doctor will clean an area of the donor's hip. A hollow needle and     syringe will be used to remove the bone marrow.The doctor will make several small punctures. This is to harvest enough bone marrow for the transplant (1-2 quarts). Lastly, the wounds will be covered with bandages.
If the stem cells will be from the donor's blood (PBSC), the doctor will stick a needle in the donor's large vein or veins in the arms. A machine will receive blood from the vein. This machine will spin the blood so that the stem cells are concentrated. The rest of the blood will be given back to the donor. The doctor will cover the puncture wounds with bandages. This procedure may require more than one blood donation. The donor may also be required to take pills that cause more stem cells from the bone marrow to go into the blood.

The donated stem cells will be filtered. Next, the doctor will administer the cells through a small, flexible tube, called a catheter, into one of your large veins.

Immediately after procedure the donor will recover quickly. You, the recipient, will be placed in isolation. This is to avoid infection until the new stem cells in the bone marrow begin to produce infection-fighting cells.

Recovery

The new bone marrow normally takes almost a year in order to function normally. During this period the patient is to be monitored closely to identify any infections or complications that may develop. The recovery process continues for several months or longer after discharging from the hospital, during which time the patient cannot return to work or many previously enjoyed activities.

MedWorld India Affiliated Hospitals in India the Leading Destination for Organ Transplant Surgery

·         Indian doctors are known all over the world for their skill and knowledge and have the experience of studying and working at the best hospitals in the world.

·         India's leading liver transplant centre conducts perhaps the world's highest number of liver transplants (16 to 18 every month).

·         The hospital has a special centre for liver diseases amongst children and liver transplants for children . Highly skilled surgical teams with vast experience and excellent track record of doing largest numbers of Live related donor kidney and liver transplants with survival rates comparable to world's best centers.

·         Most advanced Technology Infrastructure - Blood Bank with 24 hour apharesis facility, advanced laboratory and microbiology (infection control) support, advanced cardiology, DSA and interventionalradiology, portable and colour ultra-sonology, Liver Fibro-scan, 64 slice CT scanner, 3 T MRI, PET-CT and nephrology (including 24 hour dialysis and CVVHD) facilities. Organ Transplant Hospitals in India are now equipped with the latest and high end technology.

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