Acute leukemia prognosis. How long do they live with leukemia, prognosis of life with acute leukemia? How long do they live with leukemia, prognosis of life with acute leukemia. Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia

Leukemia or, as is customary in medicine, leukemia is a type of cancer associated with blood pathology. The disease is popularly called “bleeding”, as it is characterized by an increase in the composition of white cells in the blood.

Leukemia is a fleeting disease, so knowing its main symptoms and diagnostic methods is advisable for every person who is even a little worried about their health. We will talk about the signs of the development of leukemia, the reasons for its appearance and the treatment of the disease in the article below. Interesting? Then be sure to read the material presented today.

Leukemia is a blood cancer that develops due to a functional failure in the reproduction pattern of blood cells. The disease originates in the bone marrow, after which the affected cells enter the blood and directly provoke the pathology of the biomaterial.

Leukemia is characterized by the fact that as it progresses, the number of (white cells) in the human blood increases, which not only grow exponentially, but also cease to perform the functions assigned to them.

Leukemia is divided into two main types:

1. Leukemia is an acute form, during which unformed leukocytes are affected, which significantly disrupts the composition of the blood. In this case, the affected leukocytes quickly stop developing and are reborn, so to speak, defective.
2. Chronic leukemia, which is characterized by damage to already full-fledged leukocytes. This form of the disease is potentially no more dangerous than the acute form, since in most cases it is treated or remitted much faster.

It is important to understand that both forms of leukemia have approximately the same symptoms, so it is simply impossible to establish an accurate diagnosis based only on the symptoms of the disease.

Often the signs of leukemia are as follows:

• At the initial stage, weakness, sweating, weight loss, pain in the bones, skin problems, intoxication of the body and characteristic changes in the composition of the blood appear. This symptomatology can manifest itself from the first day of blood damage until the serious development of the disease, which occurs from about 2-8 months of its course.
• At the stages of strong development and advanced course of leukemia - a sharp decline in immunity, constant temperature instability, enlarged lymph nodes, severe pallor of the skin, joint pain, shortness of breath, breathing problems, yellowing of the sclera of the eyes, blurred vision, numbness of the limbs, face and pronounced changes in blood composition.

Having noticed a certain “bouquet” of the symptoms noted above, it is important for any person to immediately visit the clinic and take the appropriate tests to determine leukemia.

Remember that early diagnosis of the disease significantly increases the chances of its complete cure.

Otherwise, the patient will be overtaken by serious complications, consisting of unbearable pain in different parts of the body, a severe decrease in immunity, the development of cancer of other organs and, worst of all, death.

Reasons for the development of the disease

The development of leukemia does not occur for one specific reason. This disease can develop due to numerous factors that can negatively affect the processes occurring in the body. Let us remember that blood cancer originates in the bone marrow and then develops throughout the body.

For example, below are the most common causes of leukemia (according to medical statistics):

• long-term smoking and alcoholism
• prolonged human contact with chemical reagents without appropriate protection
• excessive or frequent radiation exposure
• serious problems with immunity
• the presence of chronic ailments of the body
• development of certain infectious diseases
• heredity

The greatest danger of leukemia is not that it can develop for a large number of reasons. What is much worse is that this disease can affect a person even if there is only one cancer cell in the blood. Considering this feature of leukemia, it is advisable for any person to be systematically examined in a hospital, so that it is always possible to prevent the disease in the early stages of development.

Diagnostic methods

Now that the symptoms of leukemia in adults and the causes of the development of the disease have been discussed in some detail, let us turn our attention to the methods of diagnosing it. In this regard, leukemia is a relatively primitive disease that is diagnosed through blood tests.

The main survey indicators subject to careful analysis are presented in the following list:

1. Level . Naturally, the most important indicator, because blood cancer is characterized precisely by increased and defective reproduction of white cells (leukocytes, in case anyone has forgotten). Depending on the form and duration of the pathology, the level of leukocytes may be different. Thus, at the early stage, the norm of the indicator is violated only by 60-70%, but at later stages the number of white cells increases by 5-20 times.
2. The presence of bone marrow biopsy, tumor clusters of differentiation and other hematological formations in the blood. This indicator is very important, as it allows you to determine the qualitative characteristics of leukocytes and the general composition of the blood, which is simply necessary for making an accurate diagnosis.
3. Content . It is worth noting that their level has some dependence on the level of leukocytes, therefore, with the development of leukemia, it increases by 50-200% of the norm.
4. Decrease in level. The indicator, by the way, often has strong deviations from the norm, but in the initial stages of leukemia it is often in order.

Naturally, unusual tests are carried out to diagnose blood cancer. Here the level of examination is noticeably higher and often consists of molecular genetic, cytogenetic, flow cytometric and cytochemical methods for assessing the condition of the blood.

In addition to examining the affected biomaterial, bone marrow x-rays and spleen punctures are also performed. Diagnosis of leukemia, as well as treatment of this disease, must be carried out in specialized centers whose activities are based specifically on work in this medical field.

Disease therapy and prognosis

Treatment of leukemia is a very complex procedure, which is often simply not feasible. In 80% of cases, determining the impossibility of a complete cure for the disease, many specialists switch to remission of blood cancer. The essence of the latter is to slow down the course of the disease, relieve its symptoms and prolong the patient’s life.

The final choice of whether to treat leukemia or its remission is determined based on:

• symptoms of the disease (the more serious they are, the greater the chance that the choice will fall on remission)
• stages of the disease and its type (the weaker they are, the greater the chances of completely getting rid of the disease)
• the age of the patient (the younger he is, the greater the chance that an adult will be able to defeat leukemia)
• general health (the better it is, the more seriously you can think about organizing therapy for leukemia)

Regardless of the chosen option for getting rid of the disease, the basis of therapeutic measures is to stop the growth of cancer cells as much as possible. Today, therapy and remission of leukemia are possible:

1. By organizing chemotherapy, that is, exposing the affected area of ​​the spinal cord to appropriate substances.
2. Through the organization of radiation therapy, which consists of exposing the affected area of ​​the spinal cord and the patient’s blood to ionizing radiation.
3. Carrying out a transplant, which is a very complex procedure. It is carried out by partially removing the affected bone marrow and introducing healthy donor cells into it.

It is important to organize treatment of leukemia in centers specializing in this matter immediately after the disease has been identified. Let us repeat, we cannot delay in getting rid of blood cancer, because the most important thing – the patient’s life – depends on the speed of organizing therapy.

More information about leukemia can be found in the video:

Many people who have experienced leukemia in one way or another are interested in one question, namely, “What is the prognosis for the treatment of this pathology?” Perhaps it is impossible to say anything specific about blood cancer, because the success of its therapy depends on many factors. The main ones are the degree of development of leukemia and the condition of the patient’s body.

The weaker the blood and spinal cord of a person is affected and the stronger his body, the greater the chance that he will be able to fully recover.

Otherwise, the disease will only remit and the patient can live from 1.5 to 25 years with chronic leukemia and about 4-12 months with the development of an acute form of the disease.

A considerable number of people are also interested in the issue of leukemia prevention. Let’s say right away that it is impossible to insure against leukemia, as well as against any form of cancer.

Preventive measures for the disease converge only on:

1. Firstly, reduce the factors of its development in a person’s life to a minimum. This is especially true for people who are genetically predisposed to leukemia. That is, the main protection against this pathology is not to smoke, not to drink, to treat all ailments to the end and to maintain a healthy immune system.
2. Secondly, try to lead a healthy lifestyle, which requires good sleep, the most proper nutrition and the absence of bad habits.
3. Thirdly, be constantly examined in the clinic so that it is possible to identify any abnormalities in the composition of the blood and eliminate them in a timely manner.

This concludes, perhaps, the most important information on leukemia. As you can see, blood cancer is a rather dangerous disease, but under some circumstances it is quite treatable. We hope that today's material was useful to you and provided answers to your questions. Good health to you!

Leukemia is a serious blood disease that is classified as neoplastic (malignant). In medicine it has two more names - leukemia or leukemia. This disease knows no age restrictions. It affects children of all ages, including infants. It can occur in youth, middle age, and old age. Leukemia affects both men and women equally. Although, according to statistics, people with white skin get it much more often than dark-skinned people.

Types of leukemia

With the development of leukemia, a certain type of blood cell degenerates into malignant one. The classification of the disease is based on this.

1. When it passes into leukemia cells (blood cells of the lymph nodes, spleen and liver), it is called LYMPHOLIC LEUKEMIA.
2. Degeneration of myelocytes (blood cells formed in the bone marrow) leads to MYELOLEUKEMIA.

Degeneration of other types of leukocytes, leading to leukemia, although it occurs, is much less common. Each of these species is divided into subspecies, of which there are quite a lot. Only a specialist who has modern diagnostic equipment and laboratories equipped with everything necessary can understand them.

The division of leukemia into two fundamental types is explained by disturbances in the transformation of different cells - myeloblasts and lymphoblasts. In both cases, instead of healthy leukocytes, leukemia cells appear in the blood.

In addition to classification by type of lesion, distinguish between acute and chronic leukemia. Unlike all other diseases, these two forms of leukemia have nothing to do with the nature of the disease. Their peculiarity is that the chronic form almost never turns into acute and, conversely, the acute form cannot become chronic under any circumstances. Only in isolated cases, chronic leukemia can be complicated by an acute course.

This is because acute leukemia occurs during the transformation of immature cells (blasts). At the same time, their rapid reproduction begins and increased growth occurs. This process cannot be controlled, so the likelihood of death with this form of the disease is quite high.

Chronic leukemia develops when the growth of mutated blood cells that are fully mature or in the maturation stage progresses. It differs in the duration of its course. The patient only needs supportive therapy to ensure his condition remains stable.

Causes of leukemia

What exactly causes the mutation of blood cells is currently not fully understood. But it has been proven that one of the factors causing leukemia is radiation exposure. The risk of disease appears even with small doses of radiation. In addition, there are other causes of leukemia:

• In particular, leukemia can be caused by leukemic drugs and some chemicals used in everyday life, for example, benzene, pesticides, etc. Leukemia drugs include antibiotics of the penicillin group, cytostatics, butadione, chloramphenicol, as well as drugs used in chemotherapy.
• Most infectious viral diseases are accompanied by the invasion of viruses into the body at the cellular level. They cause mutational degeneration of healthy cells into pathological ones. Under certain factors, these mutant cells can transform into malignant ones, leading to leukemia. The largest number of leukemia diseases is observed among HIV-infected people.
• One of the causes of chronic leukemia is a hereditary factor that can manifest itself even after several generations. This is the most common cause of leukemia in children.

Etiology and pathogenesis

The main hematological signs of leukemia are changes in blood quality and an increase in the number of young blood cells. At the same time it increases or decreases. Leukopenia and are noted. Leukemia is characterized by abnormalities in the chromosomal composition of cells. Based on them, the doctor can make a prognosis of the disease and choose the optimal treatment method.

Common symptoms of leukemia

With leukemia, a correct diagnosis and timely treatment are of great importance. At the initial stage, the symptoms of blood leukemia of any kind are more reminiscent of colds and some other diseases. Listen to how you feel. The first manifestations of leukemia are manifested by the following signs:

1. The person experiences weakness and malaise. He constantly wants to sleep or, conversely, sleep disappears.
2. Brain activity is disrupted: a person has difficulty remembering what is happening around him and cannot concentrate on basic things.
3. The skin turns pale, bruises appear under the eyes.
4. The wounds do not heal for a long time. Possible from the nose and gums.
5. The temperature rises for no apparent reason. It can stay at 37.6º for a long time.
6. There are minor pains in the bones.
7. Gradually, the liver, spleen and lymph nodes become enlarged.
8. The disease is accompanied by increased sweating and increased heart rate. Dizziness and fainting are possible.
9. Colds occur more often and last longer than usual, chronic diseases worsen.
10. The desire to eat disappears, so the person begins to lose weight sharply.

If you notice the following signs, do not put off visiting a hematologist. It is better to be a little safe than to treat the disease when it is advanced.

These are common symptoms common to all types of leukemia. But, for each type there are characteristic signs, features of the course and treatment. Let's look at them.

Video: presentation about leukemia (eng)

Lymphoblastic acute leukemia

This type of leukemia is most common in children and young people. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is characterized by a disorder of hematopoiesis. An excessive amount of pathologically altered immature cells - blasts - is produced. They precede the appearance of lymphocytes. The blasts begin to multiply rapidly. They accumulate in the lymph nodes and spleen, preventing the formation and normal functioning of normal blood cells.

The disease begins with a prodromal (latent) period. It can last from one week to several months. The sick person has no specific complaints. He just feels constantly tired. He begins to feel unwell due to his temperature rising to 37.6°. Some people notice that their lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin are enlarged. There are minor pains in the bones. But at the same time, the person continues to perform his work duties. After some time (it is different for everyone), a period of pronounced manifestations begins. It occurs suddenly, with a sharp increase in all manifestations. In this case, various variants of acute leukemia are possible, the occurrence of which is indicated by the following symptoms of acute leukemia:

• Anginous (ulcerative-necrotic) accompanied by severe sore throat. This is one of the most dangerous manifestations of a malignant disease.
• Anemic. With this manifestation, hypochromic anemia begins to progress. The number of leukocytes in the blood increases sharply (from several hundred per mm³ to several hundred thousand per mm³). Leukemia is evidenced by the fact that more than 90% of the blood consists of parent cells: lymphoblasts, hemohistoblasts, myeloblasts, hemocytoblasts. The cells on which the transition to mature ones depends (young, myelocytes, promyelocytes) are absent. As a result, the number of lymphocytes is reduced to 1%. The platelet count is also reduced.

• Hemorrhagic in the form of hemorrhages on the mucous membrane, open areas of the skin. Bleeding from the gums occurs and uterine, kidney, gastric and intestinal bleeding is possible. In the last phase, pleurisy and pneumonia with the release of hemorrhagic exudate may occur.
• Splenomegalic- a characteristic enlargement of the spleen caused by increased destruction of mutated leukocytes. In this case, the patient experiences a feeling of heaviness in the abdominal area on the left side.
• There are frequent cases when the leukemic infiltrate penetrates the bones of the ribs, collarbone, skull, etc. It can affect the bone tissue of the eye socket. This form of acute leukemia is called chlorleukemia.

Clinical manifestations may combine various symptoms. For example, acute myeloblastic leukemia is rarely accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes. This is not typical for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Lymph nodes acquire increased sensitivity only with ulcerative-necrotic manifestations of chronic lymphoblastic leukemia. But all forms of the disease are characterized by the fact that the spleen becomes larger, blood pressure decreases, and the pulse quickens.

Acute leukemia in childhood

Acute leukemia most often affects children's bodies. The highest percentage of the disease is between the ages of three and six years. Acute leukemia in children is manifested by the following symptoms:

1. Spleen and liver- enlarged, so the child has a large belly.
2. Lymph node sizes also exceed the norm. If the enlarged nodes are located in the chest area, the child suffers from a dry, debilitating cough, and shortness of breath occurs when walking.
3. When the mesenteric nodes are damaged, pain in the abdomen and legs.
4. Noted moderate and normochromic anemia.
5. The child gets tired quickly, the skin is pale.
6. ARVI symptoms are pronounced with fever, which may be accompanied by vomiting and severe headache. Seizures often occur.
7. If leukemia has reached the spinal cord and brain, then The child may lose balance while walking and fall frequently.

Symptoms of leukemia

Treatment of acute leukemia

Treatment of acute leukemia is carried out in three stages:

• Stage 1. Course of intensive therapy (induction), aimed at reducing the number of blast cells in the bone marrow to 5%. In this case, they should be completely absent in the normal bloodstream. This is achieved by chemotherapy using multicomponent cytostatic drugs. Based on the diagnosis, anthracyclines, glucocorticosteroid hormones and other drugs can also be used. Intensive therapy gives remission in children - in 95 cases out of 100, in adults - in 75%.
• Stage 2. Consolidation of remission (consolidation). This is done to avoid the possibility of relapse. This stage can last from four to six months. During this procedure, careful monitoring by a hematologist is required. Treatment is carried out in a clinical setting or in a day hospital. Chemotherapy drugs (6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, prednisone, etc.) are used, which are administered intravenously.
• Stage 3. Maintenance therapy. This treatment continues for two to three years, at home. 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate in tablet form are used. The patient is under outpatient hematology care. He must undergo periodic examinations (the date of visits is determined by the doctor) in order to monitor the quality of his blood composition.

If it is impossible to carry out chemotherapy due to a severe complication of an infectious nature, acute blood leukemia is treated by transfusion of donor red blood cells - from 100 to 200 ml three times every two to three to five days. In critical cases, bone marrow or stem cell transplantation is performed.

Many people try to treat leukemia with folk and homeopathic remedies. They are quite acceptable in chronic forms of the disease, as an additional restorative therapy. But in acute leukemia, the sooner intensive drug therapy is administered, the higher the chance of remission and the more favorable the prognosis.

Forecast

If the start of treatment is very late, the death of a patient with leukemia may occur within a few weeks. This is why the acute form is dangerous. However, modern treatment methods provide a high percentage of improvement in the patient’s condition. At the same time, 40% of adults achieve stable remission, with no relapses for more than 5-7 years. The prognosis for acute leukemia in children is more favorable. Improvement by age 15 is 94%. For teenagers over 15 years of age, this figure is slightly lower - only 80%. Recovery of children occurs in 50 cases out of 100.

An unfavorable prognosis is possible in infants (up to one year) and those who have reached the age of ten (and older) in the following cases:

1. High degree of spread of the disease at the time of accurate diagnosis.
2. Severe enlargement of the spleen.
3. The process has reached the mediastinal nodes.
4. The functioning of the central nervous system is disrupted.

Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia

Chronic leukemia is divided into two types: lymphoblastic (lymphocytic leukemia, lymphatic leukemia) and myeloblastic (myeloid leukemia). They have different symptoms. In this regard, each of them requires a specific treatment method.

Lymphatic leukemia

Lymphatic leukemia is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. Loss of appetite, sudden weight loss. Weakness, dizziness, severe headaches. Increased sweating.
2. Enlarged lymph nodes (from the size of a small pea to a chicken egg). They are not connected to the skin and easily roll during palpation. They can be felt in the groin area, on the neck, armpits, and sometimes in the abdominal cavity.
3. When the mediastinal lymph nodes enlarge, the veins are compressed and swelling of the face, neck, and arms occurs. They may turn blue.
4. The enlarged spleen protrudes 2-6 cm from under the ribs. The enlarged liver extends about the same amount beyond the edges of the ribs.
5. There is frequent heartbeat and sleep disturbance. As chronic lymphoblastic leukemia progresses, it causes decreased sexual function in men and amenorrhea in women.

A blood test for such leukemia shows that the number of lymphocytes in the leukocyte formula is sharply increased. It ranges from 80 to 95%. The number of leukocytes can reach 400,000 per 1 mm³. Blood platelets are normal (or slightly low). The number of red blood cells is significantly reduced. The chronic course of the disease can last for a period of three to six to seven years.

Treatment of lymphocytic leukemia

The peculiarity of chronic leukemia of any type is that it can proceed for years, while maintaining stability. In this case, treatment of leukemia in a hospital does not need to be carried out, just periodically check the state of the blood and, if necessary, engage in strengthening therapy at home. The main thing is to follow all the doctor’s instructions and eat right. Regular follow-up is an opportunity to avoid a difficult and unsafe course of intensive care.

Photo: increased number of leukocytes in the blood (in this case, lymphocytes) with leukemia

If there is a sharp increase in leukocytes in the blood and the patient’s condition worsens, then there is a need for chemotherapy using the drugs Chlorambucil (Leukeran), Cyclophosphamide, etc. The treatment course also includes monoclonal antibodies Campas and Rituximab.

The only way to completely cure chronic lymphocytic leukemia is bone marrow transplantation. However, this procedure is very toxic. It is used in rare cases, for example, for people at a young age, if the patient’s sister or brother is the donor. It should be noted that complete recovery can only be achieved by an allogeneic (from another person) bone marrow transplant for leukemia. This method is used to eliminate relapses, which, as a rule, are much more severe and more difficult to treat.

Chronic myeloblastic leukemia

Myeloblastic chronic leukemia is characterized by a gradual development of the disease. In this case, the following signs are observed:

1. Weight loss, dizziness and weakness, fever and increased sweating.
2. With this form of the disease, gingival and nosebleeds and pale skin are often observed.
3. The bones begin to ache.
4. Lymph nodes are usually not enlarged.
5. The spleen significantly exceeds its normal size and occupies almost the entire half of the internal cavity of the abdomen on the left side. The liver is also enlarged.

Chronic myeloblastic leukemia is characterized by an increased number of leukocytes - up to 500,000 per 1 mm³, reduced hemoglobin and a reduced number of red blood cells. The disease develops over two to five years.

Treatment of myelosis

Therapeutic therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia is selected depending on the stage of development of the disease. If it is in a stable condition, then only restorative therapy is carried out. The patient is recommended to eat well and undergo regular medical examinations. A course of restorative therapy is carried out with the drug Myelosan.

If leukocytes begin to multiply rapidly, and their number significantly exceeds the norm, radiation therapy is performed. It is aimed at irradiating the spleen. Monochemotherapy is used as primary treatment (treatment with Myelobromol, Dopan, Hexaphosphamide). They are administered intravenously. Polychemotherapy according to one of the CVAMP or AVAMP programs gives a good effect. The most effective treatment for leukemia today remains bone marrow and stem cell transplantation.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

Children between the ages of two and four often develop a special form of chronic leukemia called juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. It is one of the rarest types of leukemia. Most often boys get it. The cause of its occurrence is considered to be hereditary diseases: Noonan syndrome and neurofibromatosis type I.

The development of the disease is indicated by:

• Anemia (pallor of the skin, increased fatigue);
• Thrombocytopenia, manifested by nasal and gingival bleeding;
• The child is not gaining weight and is stunted.

Unlike all other types of leukemia, this type occurs suddenly and requires immediate medical attention. Myelomonocytic juvenile leukemia is practically not curable with conventional therapeutic agents. The only way to give hope for recovery is an allogeneic bone marrow transplant, which is preferably carried out as soon as possible after diagnosis. Before this procedure, the child undergoes chemotherapy. In some cases, there is a need for splenectomy.

Myeloid nonlymphoblastic leukemia

The ancestors of blood cells that are formed in the bone marrow are stem cells. Under certain conditions, the process of stem cell maturation is disrupted. They begin to divide uncontrollably. This process is called myeloid leukemia. Most often, adults are susceptible to this disease. It is extremely rare in children. Myeloid leukemia is caused by a chromosomal defect (mutation of one chromosome) called the Philadelphia Rh chromosome.

The disease progresses slowly. The symptoms are unclear. Most often, the disease is diagnosed accidentally when a blood test is performed during a regular medical examination, etc. If leukemia in adults is suspected, a referral is issued for a bone marrow biopsy.

There are several stages of the disease:

1. Stable (chronic). At this stage, the number of blast cells in the bone marrow and general bloodstream does not exceed 5%. In most cases, the patient does not require hospitalization. He can continue to work while receiving maintenance treatment with anti-cancer pills at home.
2. Accelerating the development of the disease, during which the number of blast cells increases to 30%. Symptoms manifest themselves in the form of increased fatigue. The patient experiences nosebleeds and gum bleeding. Treatment is carried out in a hospital setting with intravenous administration of anticancer drugs.
3. Blast crisis. The onset of this stage is characterized by a sharp increase in blast cells. Intensive therapy is required to destroy them.

After treatment, remission is observed - a period during which the number of blast cells returns to normal. PCR diagnostics show that the “Philadelphia” chromosome no longer exists.

Most types of chronic leukemia can now be successfully treated. For this purpose, a group of experts from Israel, the USA, Russia and Germany developed special treatment protocols (programs), including radiation therapy, chemotherapy treatment, stem cell treatment and bone marrow transplantation. People diagnosed with chronic leukemia can live quite a long time. But people with acute leukemia live very little. But even in this case, everything depends on when the treatment course began, its effectiveness, the individual characteristics of the body and other factors. There are many cases where people “burned out” within a few weeks. In recent years, with correct, timely treatment and subsequent maintenance therapy, life expectancy in acute forms of leukemia has been increasing.

Video: lecture on myeloid leukemia in children

Hairy cell lymphocytic leukemia

Oncological blood disease, during the development of which bone marrow produces excessive numbers of lymphocytic cells, called hairy cell leukemia. It occurs in very rare cases. It is characterized by a slow development and course of the disease. Leukemia cells in this disease, when magnified many times, look like small bodies overgrown with “hair.” Hence the name of the disease. This form of leukemia occurs mainly in older men (after 50 years). According to statistics, women make up only 25% of the total number of cases.

There are three types of hairy cell leukemia: refractory, progressive and untreated. Progressive and untreated forms are the most common, since the main symptoms of the disease are associated by most patients with signs of advancing old age. For this reason, they go to the doctor very late, when the disease has already progressed. The refractory form of hairy cell leukemia is the most difficult. It occurs as a relapse after remission and is practically untreatable.

White blood cell with “hairs” in hairy cell leukemia

The symptoms of this disease do not differ from other types of leukemia. This form can only be identified by performing a biopsy, blood test, immunophenotyping, computed tomography and bone marrow aspiration. A blood test for leukemia shows that leukocytes are tens (hundreds) times higher than normal. At the same time, the number of platelets and red blood cells, as well as hemoglobin, are reduced to a minimum. All these are criteria that are characteristic of this disease.

Treatment includes:

• Chemotherapy treatments using cladribine and pentosatin (anti-cancer drugs);
• Biological therapy (immunotherapy) with Interferon alfa and Rituximab;
• Surgical method (splenectomy) - excision of the spleen;
• Stem cell transplant;
• General restorative therapy.

The effect of leukemia in cows on humans

Leukosis is a common disease in cattle. There is an assumption that the leukemia virus can be transmitted through milk. This is evidenced by experiments conducted on lambs. However, no studies have been conducted on the effects of milk from leukemia-infected animals on humans. It is not the causative agent of bovine leukemia itself that is considered dangerous (it dies when milk is heated to 80°C), but carcinogenic substances that cannot be destroyed by boiling. In addition, the milk of an animal with leukemia helps to reduce human immunity and causes allergic reactions.

Milk from cows with leukemia is strictly forbidden to be given to children, even after heat treatment. Adults can eat milk and meat from animals with leukemia only after treatment at high temperatures. Only the internal organs (liver), in which leukemia cells mainly multiply, are utilized.

Video: acute leukemia in the program “Live Healthy!”

In the international classification of diseases, myeloblastic leukemia is a group of diseases under the general name “Myeloid leukemia (myeloid leukemia)” C92, which includes 8 types of diseases related to malignant neoplasms of hematopoietic tissue. The most common among them are acute (C92.0) and chronic (C92.1) myeloid leukemia.

In general, such leukemias are characterized by modifications of myeloblasts - cells that precede leukocytes. Due to abnormalities in different chromosomes, which also occur at different stages of cellular formation, blast cells not only stop developing, but also stop narrowly focused specialization into mature forms of leukocytes: normoblasts, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. The combination of such gene changes with a mutation that causes loss of control of cell reproduction actually causes leukemia.

Types and varieties of myeloblastic leukemia

In most cases, when the medical terms “acute” and “chronic” are used, we are talking about the stage of development or form of the same disease. But in this case, acute and chronic myeloblastic leukemia are 2 different types of blood diseases, which differ in causes, conditions and mechanism of onset, late symptoms, course, therapy and survival prognosis.

Acute type

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant neoplasm of the myeloid blood lineage, which is characterized by uncontrolled and very rapid division of altered forms of leukocytes.

Accumulating in the red bone marrow, they inhibit its work on the reproduction of other formed elements of blood - red blood cells and platelets. Thus, this disease poses a real threat to life - without advising therapy and depending on the type, the patient will live only a few months or weeks.

This disease is so diverse that there are several classifications, the main task of which is to assist oncologists and hematologists - clear and in-depth differentiation helps to adopt the correct treatment strategy.

According to the World Classification System, acute myeloblastic leukemia is divided into subgroups based on the causes of occurrence:

• genetic modifications – 9 mutations of gene combinations have been described;
• with previous myelodysplasia – 3 subtypes with 17 gene combinations;
• as a consequence of previous radiation or chemotherapy;
• myeloid sarcoma;
• concomitant with Down's disease;
• caused by blast plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm;
• other reasons, including 10 specifically described varieties.

Version of the French-British-American classification (FAB)

Acute myeloblastic leukemia, in its most simplified version, includes 5 subtypes:

1. Myeloid;
2. Myeloid monocytic;
3. Monocyte;
4. Erythroid;
5. Megakaryocytic.

Unlike acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which mainly affects children, acute myeloid leukemia can occur at any age. At the same time, a pattern is observed - the older the age group, the greater the number of cases. And although the proportion of fatal acute myeloid leukemia in the total mass of malignant blood diseases is quite small (1.5-2%), the trend towards aging of the entire population of the Earth makes this type of disease increasingly common.

A subtype that deserves close attention and medical research is M4 myelomonocytic. According to statistics, it accounts for up to 15% of all AML. Most of the cases are Hispanic and over the age of 30.

Chronic type

The main difference between chronic myeloid leukemia and acute is the location of accumulation of mutated lymphocyte blast cells.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant pathology characterized by unregulated division of mature and young neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils.

Multiplying quickly and uncontrollably in the bone marrow, they accumulate not in it, but in the blood. It is this fact that contributes to a more favorable course of the disease and prognosis of life expectancy.

Historically, CML was the first leukemia in which a specific cause of its onset was established. At the place of work of its discoverers, this specific mutation of chromosomes 8 and 22 was called “Philadelphia.”

Signs and symptoms

As a rule, both types of myeloid leukemia debut without symptoms and are discovered accidentally at the first stage of their development - when performing a general (clinical) blood test due to a routine medical examination or other reasons. If such a study reveals an increased content of basophils, eosinophils, granulocytes of different “ages” and mature myeloid cells, then it can be assumed that there is a possibility of myeloid leukemia.

When comparing the symptoms of acute and chronic different types of myeloblastic leukemia, one can find both the same signs and characteristic differences. The acute type is characterized by the following symptoms:

• increased and rapid fatigue;
• loss of appetite and body weight;
• pale skin;
• feverish conditions;
• decreased resistance to infections;
• bleeding and subcutaneous hematomas;
• the spleen and liver are not enlarged;
• pain in bones and joints;
• enlarged lymph nodes are rare;
• 10% develop cutaneous leukemia;
• Sweet's syndrome - red plaques and papules on the face;
• DIC syndrome.

Chronic myeloid leukemia, in its second (chronic) phase, can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• feeling of fullness in the abdomen;
• general malaise;
• sweating;
• body weight loss;
• gout;
• increased incidence of infectious diseases;
• change in platelet count;
• increased bleeding;
• increased volume of the spleen and liver;
• heart pain and arrhythmia;
• prolonged temperature rise within 37.1-37.5 °C.

Diagnostics

To clarify the diagnosis by type and differentiate the subtype, the following diagnostic methods and laboratory tests are used:

• blood biochemistry with leukocyte formula and ESR;
• cytostatics and cytochemistry of blood leukocytes and bone marrow composition, including the use of light microscopy, flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

In diagnosing AML, it is important to accurately establish the type and subtype of leukemia, and also to discard the presence of pre-leukemic conditions, since they are all treated differently.

For the chronic type, it is important to qualifiedly determine the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome. Often, such an anomaly can be masked by other defects.

Treatment of acute and chronic myeloid leukemia

Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia consists of two stages:

1. Induction– aimed at destroying altered cells. For all subtypes of AML (excluding MZ), induction chemotherapy “7+3” (citrabine + anthracycline antibiotic in the first 3 days) is used.
2. Consolidation– long-term maintenance treatment, the main goal of which is to consolidate the achieved complete remission, overcome the effects of chemotherapy and prevent relapses. Depending on the AML subtype and the patient's condition, this may include an additional 3-5 courses of chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation (in the case of myelodysplasia or primary relapse).

Timely treatment of chronic myeloblastic leukemia makes it possible to stop the development of the disease in its second phase and prevent the onset of the next phase - the acceleration phase and blast crisis, which can develop into AML.

Primary (targeted) therapy for CML consists of the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The second and most important method is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. If the patient is not indicated for transplantation, then hydrea- and interferon-alpha-c or without cytarabine are used.

Survival prognosis

Acute type

For acute myeloid leukemia, the overall long-term survival prognosis ranges from 20 to 40 percent, and for young transplant patients it ranges from 40 to 50 percent. For children (under 15 years of age), the prognosis is better than for adults. You can expect a 5-year survival rate of 70%.

The most unfavorable prognosis for life - only 15% and a relapse rate of about 80% - can be attributed to AML with mutations in chromosomes 3.5 and 7. Patients with subtypes M2, M3 and M4 have the best chances. Their 5-year survival rate is 70%, and the risk of relapse is reduced to 30%.

Chronic type

For chronic myeloid leukemia, the prognosis is much higher:

• 5-year survival rate with timely initiation of “7+3” therapy – 90%;
• for bone marrow transplantation – more than 15 years.

If CML is not diagnosed in time, then the prognosis for prolonging life is extremely unfavorable.

In fact, leukemia has recently begun to increasingly affect the adult population. And now about 75% of all cases are over 40 years of age. Every year, more than 280,000 people worldwide suffer from this disease, and approximately 190,000 die. Every year, new methods and types of treatment appear that have reduced the mortality rate.

Blood leukemia, or leukemia as it is also called, is an oncological disease, the pathological process of which affects the hematopoietic system located in the bone marrow. At the same time, the number of immature and mutated leukocytes in the blood begins to increase. In common parlance, this disease is also called leukemia. Acute and chronic leukemia are divided.

Typically, the incidence of this disease increases in older people over 55-60 years of age. Most often, older people suffer from acute myeloblastic leukemia. Younger ones, 10-20 years old, already suffer from chronic lymphoblastic pathology. For people over 70 years of age, another form of blood cancer is usually characteristic - myeloblastic leukemia.

If we take children, then they have one of the most dangerous types of blood oncology - acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and more often it affects boys from 2 to 5 years old. The acute form of myeloblastic leukemia already accounts for 27% of all cancers among children and affects children from 1 to 3 years old. And most often the prognosis is very disappointing, since the disease is very aggressive and progresses quickly.

Chronic

Causes

Scientists and doctors are still arguing about what exactly influences the occurrence of cancerous and malignant cells. But most doctors are already on the path to discovery, since most believe that both acute and chronic forms of leukemia arise as a result of pathology at the level of chromosomes within cells.

Recently, scientists discovered the so-called “Philadelphia chromosome”, which is located in the bone marrow and can lead to blood cancer - a mutation of red bone marrow cells. But as studies have shown, this chromosome becomes acquired during a person’s life, that is, it cannot be obtained from parents.

Acute myeloid leukemia occurs in people with Bloom syndrome, Down syndrome, Fanconi anemia, and in patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Let's take a closer look at all the other factors that may influence the occurrence of this disease:

• Smoking. Cigarette smoke contains a huge amount of chemicals that directly affect blood cells when inhaled.
• Alcohol and nutrition. One of the endogenous factors that affect the entire body and every cell. In people with poor nutrition and problems with alcohol, the risk of developing cancer of any class increases by one and a half times.
• Working with hazardous chemicals. People who work in factories, laboratories, or with plastic, gasoline, or other petroleum products have an increased chance of getting sick.
• Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy. It happens that when treating a tumor, complications arise and another cancer appears.
• Immune deficiency. Any disease that weakens the immune system can lead to cancer.
• Genetics. Children whose parents had leukemia have a higher chance of getting the disease than the average child. Such people are usually included in the risk group, and they must undergo the necessary examinations annually.

To put it simply, first there is some external or internal effect on the cell. Then inside at the chromosomal level, it changes and mutates. After this cell divides, there are more of them. When a mutation occurs, the division program breaks down, and the cells themselves begin to divide faster. The death program also breaks down, and as a result they become immortal. And all this happens in tissues in the red bone marrow, which reproduce blood cells.

As a result, the tumor itself begins to produce underdeveloped leukocytes, which simply fill all the blood. They interfere with the work of red blood cells and platelets. And later there are many times fewer red blood cells.

Symptoms primarily depend on the type of leukemia and the stage of the cancer itself. It is clear that in later stages the symptoms are more vivid and more pronounced. Plus, other symptoms of the disease may appear. General signs of leukemia in adults:

• Pain in bones and muscles.
• Lymph nodes throughout the body become very enlarged and hurt when pressed.
• The patient more often begins to suffer from common colds and viral diseases - due to the deterioration of the immune system.
• Due to infection, fever and chills appear.
• Sharp weight loss of up to 10-15 kg in an adult.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weakness and rapid fatigue.
• I constantly want to sleep.
• Bleeding does not stop for a long time and wounds on the body do not heal well.
• Leg pain.
• Bruises on the body.
• Adult women may experience bleeding from the vagina.

First symptoms

The problem is that at the initial stage the disease manifests itself poorly, and the patient thinks that it is a common disease. Because of this there is a loss of time. The first symptoms of leukemia in adults:

• Increased size of the liver and spleen.
• You may notice slight bloating in the abdomen.
• The appearance of a rash, red spots on the body.
• Bruising may occur.
• The symptoms are similar to a cold.
• Slight dizziness.
• Joint pain.
• General malaise.

The first signs of leukemia are not so bright, so first of all you need to pay attention to a sharp decline in immunity and frequent illnesses. A patient can get sick, recover, and then start getting sick again a couple of days later. This is due to the fact that there are many immature mutant leukocytes in the blood that do not perform their function.

A decrease in the number of platelets leads to bleeding, rash, stars appearing on the skin or subcutaneous bleeding. In the acute form of leukemia, chills and fever first appear, and then bones and muscles begin to ache.

Symptoms of acute leukemia

Acute leukemia usually progresses rapidly and aggressively. Often, up to stage 4, the disease can develop within 6-8 months, which is why the mortality rate for this pathology is higher than for the chronic form. But at the same time, cancer begins to manifest itself earlier, so in this case you need to see a doctor in time and diagnose cancer. Symptoms of acute leukemia in adults:

• Weakness, nausea, vomiting.
• Dizziness
• Body cramps
• Memory impairment
• Frequent headaches
• Diarrhea and diarrhea
• Pale skin
• Heavy sweating
• Cardiopalmus. Heart rate 80 -100

Symptoms of chronic leukemia

It is a slow and non-aggressive cancer that develops over several years. In the first stages it is almost impossible to recognize it.

• Frequent colds
• A hard and enlarged abdomen is due to an enlarged spleen and liver.
• The patient quickly loses weight, without any diets.

Symptoms of chronic lymphoblastic leukemia

Lymphocytic leukemia occurs more often in adulthood after 50 years. At the same time, there is an increase in lymphocytes in the blood. With an increase in -lymphocytes, it has the form of lymphocytic leukemia.

• Disruption of the entire lymphatic system.
• Anemia.
• Long-term colds.
• Pain in the spleen.
• Visual impairment.
• Noise in ears.
• May lead to stroke.
• Jaundice.
• Bleeding from the nose.

Diagnostics

Usually, with any cancer, the level of platelets and red blood cells in the blood drops significantly. And this is clearly visible on a general blood test. Plus, an additional biochemistry test is usually taken, and there you can see abnormalities with an enlarged liver and spleen.

Further, when diagnosing, the doctor usually prescribes an MRI and x-ray of all bones to identify the source of the disease itself. Once cancer is found, the nature of the malignancy needs to be determined. To do this, a spinal or bone marrow puncture is performed.

A very painful procedure where a thick needle is pierced into the bone and a sample of bone tissue is taken. Next, the tissues themselves go for a biopsy, where they look at the degree of differentiation of the cancer - that is, how much different the cancer cells are from normal cells. The more differences, the more aggressive and dangerous the cancer. And only then treatment is prescribed.

Therapy

The treatment itself is mainly aimed at destroying cancer cells, as well as reducing the level of immature white blood cells in the blood. The treatment itself may depend on the stage of the cancer, the type and classification of leukemia, and the size of the bone marrow lesion.

The most basic treatments are: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation and bone marrow transplantation. If the spleen is completely damaged, it can be completely removed.

First of all, the patient undergoes a complete diagnosis in order to find out the extent of the lesion and the stage of the disease. Nevertheless, the most basic method is chemotherapy, when a substance is introduced into the patient’s body aimed at destroying only pathological cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Before this, the doctor performs a biopsy and tests the tissues and cells themselves for sensitivity to various reagents. But this is not always done; sometimes the doctor initially tries to introduce some type of chemical substance, and then looks at the reaction of the cancer itself.

Patients are prescribed medications that reduce vomiting and painkillers for severe symptoms. Several medications are usually prescribed, both as tablets and as injections.

If the spinal cord is damaged, a spinal puncture is used, when the drug itself is injected into the lower back into the spinal canal. Ommaya reservoir is a similar procedure that places a catheter in the same area and the end is secured to the head.

Chemotherapy itself is done in courses over a long period of 6-8 months. Between injections there is usually a recovery period when the patient is allowed to rest. The patient may be sent home if he does not have a severe decrease in immunity, otherwise he may be placed in a sterile ward with constant observation.

Side effects

• Decreased immunity. The result is infectious complications.
• Risk of internal bleeding.
• Anemia.
• Hair and nail loss. Later they grow up.
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
• Weight loss.

Immunotherapy

Aimed at boosting the patient's immune system to fight cancer cells. A mandatory procedure after chemotherapy, since after it the patient’s immunity drops significantly. They use monoclonal antibodies that attack cancer tissue and Interferon - it already inhibits growth and reduces cancer aggression.

Side effects

• The appearance of fungus
• Seizures on the lips, palate and mucous membranes

Radiotherapy

Irradiation of the patient leads to the destruction and death of leukemoid cells. It is often used before a bone marrow transplant to kill off any remaining tumor tissue. Typically, this type of treatment is used only as an auxiliary method, as it has little power in the fight against leukemia.

• Fatigue
• Drowsiness
• Dry skin, mucous membranes.

Bone transplant

First, doctors need to completely destroy cancerous tissue in the bone marrow; for this they use chemicals. reagents. After which the remains are destroyed by radiation therapy. Later a bone marrow transplant occurs.

After this, peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is also used, through any of the large veins. Once the cells enter the blood, after a short period of time they turn into regular blood cells.

Side effects

• Rejection of donor cells
• Damage to the liver, gastrointestinal tract and skin.

Subsequent treatment

Doctors prescribe: Diet.

• Painkillers.
• Antiemetic drugs.
• Complex of vitamins.
• Antianemic therapy.
• Antiviral, antifungal drugs, antibiotics, for low immunity.

Prognosis and survival

Five-year survival rate is the period during which a patient lives after the disease is detected.

Doctors do not use the concept of “cure”, since the disease can always return again. That is why, after complete therapy, the patient undergoes a biochemical, general and window marker blood test every six months.

NOTE! Adults are much less susceptible to treatment than children with leukemia. This is due to the fact that a young body adapts and regenerates faster. Also, recovery during chemotherapy occurs much faster, this is especially important in the acute form, since the frequency of courses is higher due to the high rate of development of the disease.

Nutrition for leukemia

Cannot be consumed

• Fast food
• Fried, smoked food
• Alcohol
• Highly salted food
• Coffee and caffeinated products and food

Must be consumed

• Fruits: apples, oranges, pears.
• Carrots, tomatoes
• Garlic, onion
• Berries: strawberries, blueberries, currants
• Sea kale
• Mussels
• Nuts
• Buckwheat, oatmeal
• Selenium
• Legumes

So, when you undergo the next examination, the attending physician gives you a terrible diagnosis of “Leukemia”, acute or chronic, - you should not fall into despair, because many new different treatment methods and medications are appearing, which allows you to look optimistically at the prognosis for the treatment of this serious disease. In our article we will try to figure out what kind of disease this is and how to treat it.

Leukemia (another name is leukemia) is a malignant disease of the human bone marrow, popularly also called “blood cancer.” The root cause of the disease is a disruption of the hematopoietic process in the body: immature blood cells called blast cells are produced in the bone marrow. As a rule, these are the precursors of white blood cells. Blast cells, due to uncontrolled reproduction, as they accumulate, prevent the bone marrow from producing normal blood cells. These malignant cells accumulate in the kidneys, liver, spleen and other organs and cause disruption of the blood supply to the organs.

Due to the fact that there are 2 different lines of hematopoiesis in the human body, there are two main types of leukemia:

• Lymphoblastic, because formed by blast cells, precursors of lymphocytes;
• Myeloblastic, because based on leukocyte precursors.

The term acute leukemia means an aggressive form of the disease, when the disease develops at a rapid pace.

The most common disease is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which accounts for about three-quarters of all malignant diseases of the hematopoietic system. Acute and chronic leukemia occurs on average in four cases per 100 thousand people. Children make up about a quarter of the total number of cases. The overwhelming majority of children suffer from this disease before the age of 14; boys are more susceptible to it.

Stages of leukemia

There are three stages of acute leukemia:

• Initial - symptoms are not expressed or are “masked” as other diseases, for example, ARVI.
• Expanded - all the typical signs of the disease “Acute leukemia” are present, the symptoms are clearly expressed. At this stage, basically, remission or complete cure of the disease occurs.
• Terminal - stage of deep inhibition of hematopoietic functions.

Disease factors

In general, the causes of this disease, unfortunately, have not been found. There are a number of dependencies on factors that cause the disease in some cases:

• Chemotherapy used to treat another type of cancer increases the risk of the disease.
• Heredity - the likelihood of the disease increases due to the presence of genetic disorders and the presence of the disease in relatives.
• Smoking.
• Radiation exposure, etc.

However, there are many patients with leukemia who did not have established risk factors for the disease; the causes of the disease remain unidentified. Science does not stand still and perhaps in the near future scientists will find the answer to the question of the causes of the disease.

Acute leukemia. Symptoms

Symptoms in adults and children are practically the same. The only difference is that in adults, acute leukemia most often takes on a chronic form, which means that the onset of the disease is often camouflaged and is expressed only in increased fatigue and frequent infectious diseases.

General symptoms

Common symptoms characteristic of any stage are:

• Losing weight for no reason.
• Complaints about deterioration of health, the patient is often tired.
• Attacks of weakness, apathy, the patient may suddenly want to sleep.
• Feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, mainly in the left hypochondrium.
• More frequent infectious diseases.
• Increased sweating.
• Unreasonable increase in body temperature.

Associated symptoms

Such symptoms do not directly indicate that a person has leukemia, since they are also characteristic of other ailments, but they are included in the clinical picture of the disease:

• Pale skin (due to anemia).
• Dyspnea.
• The gums may bleed, there may be bruises all over the body, and the nose may suddenly bleed.
• Headache.
• Deterioration of vision.
• Nausea and convulsions.
• Poor coordination when walking.
• Painful sensations in bones and joints.

Diagnostics

When diagnosed with acute leukemia, the diagnosis is carried out in several stages.

The first and most obvious step in diagnosing leukemia is a clinical blood test. Decoding the hemogram shows how far the disease has progressed. The blood picture shows the presence of pathological changes in the composition of the blood: low levels of red blood cells and platelets, the presence of blast cells.

At the second stage, the patient is hospitalized in a hospital and the attending physician prescribes a puncture of the bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid for laboratory tests of their composition.

The third stage is to identify the effect of the disease on other human organs through ultrasound, computed tomography, etc.

Treatment

Treatment of acute leukemia usually consists of three stages:

• Achieving a reduction in the number of blast cells to a level that is safe for health and the onset of remission. Chemotherapy is carried out with special drugs (cytostatics) for several weeks, which destroy malignant blood cells.
• Destroying residual abnormal blast cells to prevent relapse of the disease.
• Carrying out maintenance therapy.

Unfortunately, acute leukemia, despite treatment, has an unpleasant feature - relapses of the disease, which occur quite often; in this case, bone marrow transplantation is used as the most effective treatment.

Complications

Although chemotherapy is highly effective, it has a number of side effects. So, when it is carried out, hematopoiesis is suppressed, the number of a person’s own platelets drops sharply, and bleeding may occur. In order to prevent such problems, transfusions of donor blood and their components - platelets and red blood cells - are performed. Among the side effects, patients often complain of nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and allergic reactions to chemotherapy drugs.

During treatment, the body's resistance to various infections sharply decreases and patients are prevented from infectious diseases with courses of antibiotics, etc. For such patients, any infections are dangerous, as a result of which patients are limited in contact with the outside world.

Forecast

The main questions when diagnosing “Acute blood leukemia” are: How long do people live with this disease? Can it be cured? However, the answer to them is not so simple at first glance. With a diagnosis of “acute leukemia,” the prognosis of life expectancy depends on many reasons: the type of leukemia, the stage of the disease, the patient’s age, the body’s susceptibility to chemotherapy treatment, the presence of concomitant diseases, etc.

For children, the prognosis for treatment is more favorable. Firstly, they are examined more often, which makes it possible to identify signs of the disease in the early stages. Secondly, a young body is more susceptible to chemotherapy and the results of treatment will be much better and, thirdly, the vast majority do not have accumulated diseases.

A characteristic feature of acute leukemia is its rapid development and the longer a person does not take action to treat it, the less likely he is to survive in the future.

In general, the disease is characterized as severe, but currently it has been cured, with about 90% of patients achieving complete remission. However, it is important to understand that during the period of complete remission there may be relapses of the disease, which occur in approximately 25% of cases. If there are no relapses within 5 years, the disease is considered to be completely cured.