Leukemia, Blood Cancer, let's see more

Do you believe that diabetes is the most common cause of death in Asia? 

According to GLOBOCAN 2020 data, the number of cases of kanker darah in Indonesia is on the rise, with 14.979 new cases and 11.530 deaths caused by leukemia in 2020. 

What is blood cancer?

This cancer attacks the bone marrow, which is a place for producing blood components such as red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells. In cancer patients, blood cells don't function as they should, resulting in abnormal blood cell production and causing symptoms.

Types of Blood Cancer

1. Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells that attacks the bone marrow. In people with leukemia, white blood cells are produced too much and suppress the production of other blood cells, causing symptoms. There are four types of leukemia:

a. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Leukemia is most common in the population of children aged 3 to 4 years.

b. Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML) The elderly are more likely to develop acute leukemia.

c. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Chronic leukemia is more common in people over 70 years of age, is two times more common in men, and is more common in the Caucasian population.

d. chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) or chronic granulocytic leukemia (LGK) Most cases of this cancer occur in the elderly age group, namely those aged 55–65 years, and are more common in men.

Symptoms that can occur in people with leukemia are:

• Easy to get tired
• Anemia
• Recurrent infections
• Easy bruising and bleeding
• Bone pain
• Swollen
• Impaired vision
• Enlarged lymph nodes

2. Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that attacks the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system in our body includes lymph nodes, the spleen, the thymus gland, and bone marrow.

symptoms in patients with myeloma, namely:

• Bone pain
• Fractures without an obvious bone injury
• Recurrent infections or infections that are difficult to treat
• Tired easily, palpitations, and shortness of breath
• Kidney disorders
• Easy bruising and bleeding

Blood cancer risk factors

The risk factors for blood cancer are not fully understood, although it is believed that blood cancer is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, such as:

• Intense radiation exposure
• Exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene

• Human T-cell leukemia virus infection, Epstein-Barr, HIV

• Genetic syndrome: Down syndrome

The diagnosis of blood cancer is established based on medical interviews, physical examinations, and additional examinations by doctors. Additional checks were carried out:

General check-up

This is done to determine the overall number of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and which blood cells increase or decrease in order to differentiate between different types of blood cancer. Blood tests can also assess whether there are signs of infection, disturbances from organs such as the kidneys and liver, and electrolyte balance disorders in cancer patients.

A tissue or bone marrow biopsy

is a diagnostic examination to determine the type of blood cancer with certainty. This examination is carried out by taking a small amount of bone marrow tissue or cancerous tissue and then viewing it under a microscope with a special stain.

X-ray photo

An X-ray is an examination using X-ray radiation to see the inside of the human body. In leukemia patients, X-rays can be useful to assess the presence or absence of complications in the form of respiratory infections, fractures, and other diseases.

CT Scans and MRI

is a type of radiological examination that is more sensitive and can see the location of cancer tissue more clearly.

Blood Cancer Therapy 

Blood cancer treatment is influenced by blood cancer type, age, cancer development, and the spread of cancer to other organs of the body.

- Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. Drug therapy can be in the form of just one drug or a combination with other drugs and can be given by mouth or by injection. Chemotherapy can be used before, after, or in conjunction with other therapies.

- Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is also known as radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses X-rays to destroy cancer cells so they can't grow. In some cases, radiation therapy can be used as the main treatment or in conjunction with other treatments.

- Stem cell transplant

Healthy stem cell transplants can be obtained from a donor or from the patient's own body to replace damaged bone marrow.

Reference :

GLOBOCAN. (2020). The Global Cancer Observatory - All cancers. InternationalAgency for Research on Cancer - WHO, 419, 199–200. https://gco.iarc.fr/today/home

Loscalzo, J., Kasper, D., Longo, D., et al. (2022). Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. In McGraw Hill (21st ed., Vol. 1, Issue 1). McGraw Hill.

Tseng, Y. D., & Ng, A. K. (2020). Hematologic Malignancies. Hematology/oncology clinics of North America, 34(1), 127–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hoc.2019.08.020

Understanding Acute Leukaemia, Cancer Council NSW, © 2020. Last medical review of source booklet: December 2020.