WHAT IS ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA (AML)

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia starts in the bone marrow which  is the soft inner part of bones. With acute leukaemias such as AML, the  bone marrow cells don't mature the way they're supposed to. These immature cells, often called blast cells, keep building up. AML is also known by the names: Acute myelocytic leukaemia, Acute myelogenous leukaemia,  Acute granulocytic leukaemia and Acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia.

Without treatment, AML can quickly be life-threatening and spreads quickly to the blood and other parts of the body such as lymph nodes, liver, spleen, brain and spinal cord, testicles.

SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

• Tiredness

• Fever

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss

• Night sweats

• Pale Skin

• Headaches

• Irregular Heart beats 

• Cold Hand & Feet

• Infections, that take a while to heal

• Bleeding gums

• Small red spots under your skin caused by bleeding

• Nosebleeds

• Balance Problems 

• Numbness in Face 

• Seizures 

• Swollen Abdomen

• Swollen glands in your neck, groin, underarms, or above your collarbone

Some Causes and Risk Factors

• Smoking

• Exposure to certain chemicals such as benzene, pesticides, ionizing radiation, certain cleaning products, detergents, and paint strippers

• Few chemotherapy drugs used to treat other cancers

• Exposure to high doses of radiation

• Certain blood disorders such as myeloproliferative 

• Family History of AML

DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

Diagnosis: The diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia may be arrived at by the following ways: 

1. Physical test

2. Blood Tests like Complete Blood Count (CBC), Peripheral blood smear.

3. Bone marrow Tests 

4. Lumbar Puncture to check for leukaemia cells.

5. Imaging  such as CT, Ultrasound, X-ray.

6. Gene tests -Cytogenetic analysis,  Immunophenotyping , Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Treatment : The  treatment is usually done in  two phases:

Phase 1: Remission Induction Therapy-  High doses of chemotherapy is given  to destroy as many leukaemia cells as possible. For the treatment, you may be  hospitalised for 3-5 weeks so your doctor can monitor you for any side effects of chemotherapy. Targeted therapy drugs are available as well. Most likely, after treatment, the bone marrow starts making healthy blood cells. If no leukaemia cells are visible, it’s said to be “in remission.” 

Phase 2: Post Remission Therapy uses more treatments to wipe out any cancer cells left behind after chemotherapy. It may include: 

1. Further Chemotherapy- several cycles of high-dose chemotherapy once a month.

2. Allogeneic (from a donor) or  Autologous (from self) - stem cell transplant

3. Besides Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy may be suggested

In case AML has spread to the brain and spinal cord, or to bone radiation may be required to treat. Radiation is as well sometimes used before a stem cell transplant.  

• Chemotherapy

• Stem cell Transplant

• Radiation

• Targeted Therapy

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Complications: May arise due to the disease or during treatment

1. Anaemia: You can feel tired, weak, and short of breath as a result.

2. Bleeding: that could be serious.

3. Weakened Immunity. Making you prone to  various infections.