Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood. In simple terms, cancer is defined as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells and can develop anywhere in the body.
In leukaemia, this rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells takes place in the bone marrow. Some forms of leukaemia are more common in children while other forms occur mostly in adults.
There exist four major types of leukaemia: acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
Whereas chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is generally incurable, chronic myeloid leukaemia is curable by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
Acute myeloid leukaemia is treated with very intensive chemotherapy, and most but not all require bone marrow transplantation for treatment.
Acute types progress rapidly and can quickly lead to death, while the chronic type on the other hand progresses gradually.
Treatment for leukaemia can be complex, depending on the type of leukaemia and other factors. But there are strategies and resources that can help make it successful.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is most common in children. It is treated with intensive chemotherapy with very good chances of cure in children but not adults. Bone marrow transplantation is only required in relapsed cases.
Chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia does not need treatment in the early stages, but chronic myeloid leukaemia must be treated from the word go; otherwise, complications can be devastating. Acute leukaemia can develop a few months after screening.
Known causes of leukaemia include: genetic abnormalities, exposure to very high radiation, some medication used to treat cancer and exposure to certain chemicals.
The symptoms include persistent body weakness and fatigue, frequent infections, easy or excessive bleeding from the nose, menstruation, brain, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen among others.
Its treatment outcome and survival rates improved gradually over the decades from a mere 30 per cent in the 60s and 70s to approximately 80 per cent currently in most developed countries.
In a study conducted in 2013 at the Kenyatta National Hospital, 64.3 per cent of the children who were diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia between 2001 and 2010 died.
The report authored by Bob Agwata noted that the overall outcome of chemotherapeutic management of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was poor. Mortality being the highest, frequent relapse and overall poor cure and survival rates were noted.
However, better treatment and management methods and drugs have since been discovered and survival rates generally improved.
Prof Othieno Abinya is a blood cancer specialist
