Leukaemia is curable

Blood cancer is possibly the most feared word in a physician's vernacular – an ominous, life threatening disease with no cure. While popular culture has significantly contributed to this misunderstanding, it is a little known fact that leukaemia was one of the first cancers to have a cure. 

The amount of research that has been devoted to battle the disease has resulted in the development of treatment that now has the potential of curing other forms of cancers as well.

Dr Teo Cheng Peng, Senior Consultant, Haematology, Parkway Cancer Centre is a Singaporean physician and a noted authority on Leukaemia. 

Star Lifestyle met with the jovial Freddy Teo, as he is more popularly known, hoping to clear some of the misconceptions that surround the disease.

"Leukaemia is a cancer of the bone marrow. The bone marrow is responsible for producing the blood cells in our body – the RBCs, WBCs and platelets. A patient is said to have 'blood cancer' when this normal orderly process of production is disrupted," said Dr Teo.

There are other forms of blood cancers too, like lymphoma, which begins from lymphocytes - a vital part of the body's immunity. 

It is disheartening but a reality that blood cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of carcinoma in children. 

"The exact cause of blood cancer is not known," said Dr Teo, "studies however have shown that people with high exposure to radiation and chemicals are more prone. Blood cancer, opposed to popular belief, can also be caused by infections."

In recent years, there has been many new discoveries but chemotherapy has been the mainstay treatment since the 1960s. 

The symptoms of leukaemia are often related to the disruption of normal bone marrow. Swollen lymph glands, frequent infections, recurrent fevers and night sweats are some of the more common symptoms of leukaemia. 

Dr Freddy reiterates the importance of early diagnosis but warns that, "as the symptoms can be due to other medical conditions, the diagnosis must be confirmed by a specialist with a blood test and a bone marrow examination. 

"For leukaemia, except for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, staging does not apply. The sub-type of blood cancer is more important as this determines the aggressiveness and hence its treatment and prognosis."

Initially Stem Cell Transplant was known as Bone Marrow Transplant mainly because the source of Stem Cell is the bone marrow. The principle is quite simple, basically, it is to use normal stem cells, from a donor to "replace" the abnormal leukaemia affected cells. This is usually preceded by large doses of chemotherapy alone/or together with radiotherapy to eradicate the leukaemia cells first. 

"Stem Cell Transplant, although the most widely used treatment, for blood cancer can be very expensive. However, here at the Parkway Cancer Centre, the cost is sensationally less than in Western countries," assured Dr Freddy Teo.

Possibly the best aspect of a state of the art cancer treatment facility like Parkway Cancer Centre is not the latest innovation in medical science that they offer, but their approach towards treating the disease. Each patient is different, and blood cancer being a systemic disease, it is essential that each case be treated in a unique fashion. 

"Here at Parkway, we not only treat the disease but through our multidisciplinary care-giving facility we aim to treat the individual and his/her family."

Irrespective of technological advancement the roots of medical care has remained the same since time immemorial. With a well equipped friendly staff at their disposal, the Parkway Cancer Centre hopes to bring a smile on the faces of its patients.

For more information, contact Parkway Hospitals Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Dhaka Office), Suite B3, Level 4, House 10, Road 53, Dhaka. +88-2-8850422.

By Mannan Mashhur Zarif 

Photo: Parkway Hospitals Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Dhaka office)