Understanding Leukemia Cancer Treatment – Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Leukemia Cancer Treatment in India
India provides cost-effective treatment with high-quality medical facilities that give the appropriate assistance and care during the whole process of leukemia cancer treatment, bone cancer treatment, and the recovery procedures after the leukemia treatment has been conducted. With no language barrier as English is widely spoken, communication between staff and foreign patients is smooth at some of the following hospitals that are well-experienced in their work:
With a population of over 1.3 billion people, India ranks top in the world in terms of reported cases of blood cancer. However, recent advancements have changed the scenario significantly, increasing the survival rates with the best leukemia cancer treatment in India and more readily available testing modalities for effective drugs and therapies.
Type of Leukemia
In leukemia, there are different types but we generally divide them between acute and chronic leukemia. The biggest distinguishing factor between these two is not only the pace at which it develops, the acute being faster than the chronic, but what consequences we see below:
Acute Leukemia
In acute leukemias, the hematopoietic stem cells in the body become abnormal and accumulate in the bone marrow and blood serum. Acute leukemia splits into two types: Myeloid or lymphoblastic. This depends on the lineage of the hematopoietic stem cell.
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) – is a cancer of the lymphoid line of blood cells characterized by the development of large numbers of immature lymphocytes. Symptoms may include feeling tired, pale skin color, fever, easy bleeding, or bone pain. The Genetic risk factors may include Down syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, or neurofibromatosis. Diagnosis is typically based on blood tests and bone marrow examination.
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) – is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells that build up in the bone marrow, and blood, and interfere with normal blood cell production. Symptoms might include feeling tired, shortness of breath, easy bruising, and bleeding. Risk factors may include smoking, previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy, myelodysplastic syndrome, and exposure to the chemical benzene. The underlying mechanism involves the replacement of normal bone marrow with leukemia cells, which results in a drop in red blood cells, platelets, and normal white blood cells. Diagnosis is generally based on various factors such as bone marrow aspiration and specific blood tests. AML has multiple subtypes for which treatments and outcomes may vary.
Chronic Leukemia
In chronic leukemia, the platelets count can remain normal for quite some time, typically this cancer affects the blood and bone marrow, characterized by the abnormal growth of white blood cells called Lymphocytes.
Symptoms may not appear until the cancer has progressed. Chronic leukemia is typically divided into two main categories: chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia.
- Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): it’s a lymphoproliferative disorder. There is an accumulation of lymphocytes these lymphocytes morphologically appear mature in shape. However, functionally, they are incomplete. If there is a solid Lymph node Mass, we call it Small Lymphocytic Leukemia (SLL). The most common leukemia in Western countries is CLL contrast with the most common leukemia in the world, which is ALL. For CLL, the patient will be elderly, and CLL is the oldest patient. CLL is asymptomatic. Most of the time, you can have Lymphocytosis with the famous smudge cells, and Lymphadenopathy can occur in hepatosplenomegaly.
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a type of blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of the bone), where stem and blood cells are formed, and it's not an infectious type of disease. Stem cells and three main types of blood cells are created in the bone marrow: WBC, RBC, and platelets. With CML, abnormal WBCs called blasts multiply quickly, upsetting the growth and normal function of healthy cells.
CML is divided into three phases based mainly on the number of explosions of immature white blood cells in your blood and bone marrow. Because CML typically develops slowly and without symptoms in the first phase, the disease is often picked up on a routine blood test when CML symptoms appear; they may be similar to other less serious illnesses and may include tiredness, shortness of breath during everyday activities, pale skin, sweating at night, unexplained weight loss, bloating swelling or general discomfort in the stomach. Currently, the only risk factor for CML is exposure to very high radiation levels. Like in a nuclear accident, a risk factor is something your chance of getting the disease.
Know the Signs and Symptoms of blood cancer
The symptoms of blood cancer can vary depending on the specific type of blood cancer and its stage.
- Fatigue and weakness
- Unexplained weight loss
- Frequent infections
- Easy bruising and bleeding
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Night sweats
- Frequent fever
- Bone pain
- Abdominal discomfort
- Unexplained rash or itching
It's important to note that these symptoms are not exclusive to blood cancer and can also be caused by various other health conditions. If you experience any of these symptoms or have concerns about your health, it's essential to consult a health professional for a proper evaluation and diagnosis.
Understanding the Diagnosis process
Doctors can find chronic leukemia in blood tests before symptoms appear. In such cases, if you have signs or symptoms suggestive of leukemia, you may have the following test done:
Physical examination: your doctor will look for symptoms of leukemia caused by anemia, such as pale skin, swelling of the lymph nodes, and enlargement of the lymph nodes and spleen. By testing your blood, your doctor can determine whether you have abnormal red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets that may indicate leukemia.
Blood tests can also show the presence of leukemia, but not every type of leukemia causes leukemia cells to enter the blood. Sometimes, leukemia cells enter the blood. Sometimes, leukemia cells remain in the bone.
Bone marrow test: Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove one marrow from your bone. The sample is sent to the laboratory to look for leukemia. A specific blood test for leukemia will reveal certain characteristics and be used to determine your treatment plan.
Why is India the First Choice of Foreign Patients for Leukemia Cancer Treatment?
India provides cost-effective treatment with high-quality medical facilities that give the appropriate assistance and care during the whole process of leukemia cancer treatment and the recovery procedures after the leukemia treatment has been conducted. With no language barrier as English is widely spoken, communication between staff and foreign patients is smooth at some of the following hospitals are well-experienced in their work:
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), located in Gurugram
- Medanta The Medecity located in Gurugram
- Manipal Hospital, located in Bangalore
- BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, located in New Delhi
- Artemis Hospital, located in Gurugram
- Gleneagles Global Health City, located in Chennai
Know More About Leukemia
Around 2.3 million people were affected globally in 2015, and it occurs most commonly in children, particularly those between the ages of two and five. In the United States, it is the most common cause of cancer and death from cancer among children. Survival for children increased with ALL being up around 90% in 2015. Survival rates remain lower for babies 50% and adults 35%. According to the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), generally people, around 70% will survive their leukemia for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.
Some best doctors in India have successful stories, such as. Dr. Padmaja Lokireddy treated Jessica from Nigeria at Apollo Health City in Hyderabad. Dr. Ashish Dixit treated Joe from Kenya at Manipal Hospital in Hyderabad, who successfully overcame leukemia.
Latest Research and Development
In 2023, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization approved NexCAR19. This CAR-T cell therapy showed promising trial results for patients with advanced leukemia NexCAR19 is India’s First approved CAR-T cell therapy. The approval of this is also a testament to the power of innovation and determination in overcoming the challenges of leukemia cancer treatment in India. Professor Rahul Purwar and his team developed the CAR-T cell therapy.
Conclusion
Leukemia is a malignancy disease that affects the blood and bone marrow and is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of blast cells. This is a complex, devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Even though the exact cause of leukemia is not found, it may be due to chromosomal problems, high radiation, wrong bone marrow received, or a genetic disorder. NexCAR19 CAR-T cell Therapy is the most cost-effective CAR-T therapy, and it put India on the global page firmly of advanced cell and gene therapy. Medheal Global Care offers a variety of services designed to meet the needs of international patients, including medical visa assistance, airport pick-up, and accommodation with no language barrier, by providing translators for easy communication between medical staff and foreign patients.