How to Cure Blood Cancer: Types & Importance of Early Detection

Blood cancer occurs when the DNA in leukocytes, a kind of blood cell, undergoes alteration or mutation. These changes disrupt the cell's ability to regulate growth and division, resulting in various forms of leukaemia. As a result, these abnormal cells evade the immune system and grow uncontrollably, displacing healthy cells in the process.

Types of Blood Cancer

Blood cancer broadly encompasses diseases like acute leukaemia, myeloproliferative neoplasm, and lymphoproliferative neoplasms, to name a few.

Leukaemia is further classified into four primary types based on the afflicted cell type (myeloid or lymphoid) and progression rate (chronic or acute): chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and acute myeloid leukaemia.

Factors influencing the curability of Blood Cancer:

Several factors influence the curability of leukaemia:

• Type of leukaemia: As mentioned above, some types have higher cure rates than others.
• Overall health: A patient's general health and ability to tolerate treatment can impact outcomes.
• Time to diagnosis and treatment: Earlier diagnosis and early treatment initiation often lead to better treatment outcomes.
• Disease Biology and Genetic Mutations: Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia generally have favourable disease biology.

Curability of Blood Cancer

• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common blood cancer in children, and due to favourable disease biology in children, cure rates are above 90%. In addition to this, advances in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and supportive care practices have resulted in the long-term cure rates of this disease in children approaching 100% in developed countries.
• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in adults is more challenging, but with the use of the treatment modality of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, we can offer a long-term cure to a considerable proportion of adults with the disease.
• It is also important to note that patients with these cancers who do relapse can be cured potentially with an allogeneic stem cell transplant or CAR T cells, which have become available of late in our country.

Importance of Early Detection to Cure Blood Cancer

Early detection is crucial for successful Leukaemia treatment. When diagnosed early, treatment-related side effects like infections are less, and the patients have a higher chance of achieving remission. Early detection also allows doctors to initiate treatment before the Leukaemia can spread extensively.

Conclusion

Cure rates for blood cancer are improving each year, and many long-term survivors and success stories continue to emerge. The treating doctor and patient should embark on the treatment journey with optimism and determination.

Blood cancer occurs when the DNA in leukocytes, a kind of blood cell, undergoes alteration or mutation. These changes disrupt the cell's ability to regulate growth and division, resulting in various forms of leukaemia. As a result, these abnormal cells evade the immune system and grow uncontrollably, displacing healthy cells in the process.

Types of Blood Cancer

Blood cancer broadly encompasses diseases like acute leukaemia, myeloproliferative neoplasm, and lymphoproliferative neoplasms, to name a few.

Leukaemia is further classified into four primary types based on the afflicted cell type (myeloid or lymphoid) and progression rate (chronic or acute): chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and acute myeloid leukaemia.

Factors influencing the curability of Blood Cancer:

Several factors influence the curability of leukaemia:

• Type of leukaemia: As mentioned above, some types have higher cure rates than others.
• Overall health: A patient's general health and ability to tolerate treatment can impact outcomes.
• Time to diagnosis and treatment: Earlier diagnosis and early treatment initiation often lead to better treatment outcomes.
• Disease Biology and Genetic Mutations: Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia generally have favourable disease biology.

Curability of Blood Cancer

• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common blood cancer in children, and due to favourable disease biology in children, cure rates are above 90%. In addition to this, advances in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and supportive care practices have resulted in the long-term cure rates of this disease in children approaching 100% in developed countries.
• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in adults is more challenging, but with the use of the treatment modality of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, we can offer a long-term cure to a considerable proportion of adults with the disease.
• It is also important to note that patients with these cancers who do relapse can be cured potentially with an allogeneic stem cell transplant or CAR T cells, which have become available of late in our country.

Importance of Early Detection to Cure Blood Cancer

Early detection is crucial for successful Leukaemia treatment. When diagnosed early, treatment-related side effects like infections are less, and the patients have a higher chance of achieving remission. Early detection also allows doctors to initiate treatment before the Leukaemia can spread extensively.

Conclusion

Cure rates for blood cancer are improving each year, and many long-term survivors and success stories continue to emerge. The treating doctor and patient should embark on the treatment journey with optimism and determination.