Leukaemia Specialists in West Bengal
Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and lymphatic system, in which abnormal white blood cells multiply uncontrollably …
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What is Leukaemia?
Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and lymphatic system, in which abnormal white blood cells multiply uncontrollably and crowd out healthy blood cells. This disrupts the body's ability to produce normal red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, impairing oxygen transport, immune defense, and clotting. Leukaemia can be acute, progressing rapidly and requiring urgent treatment, or chronic, developing more slowly over months to years. It affects people of all ages, with certain subtypes more common in children and others in older adults.
Severe
Uncommon — accounts for roughly 2-3% of all cancers worldwide
No
Causes of Leukaemia
Caused by genetic mutations in blood-forming cells that lead to uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal white blood cells, though the exact trigger is often unclear. Risk factors include prior exposure to radiation or certain chemicals like benzene, previous chemotherapy, genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, and family history of blood cancers.
Symptoms of Leukaemia
Persistent fatigue and weakness, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, unexplained weight loss, fever and night sweats, bone or joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen, pale skin
Treatment & Types of Leukaemia in West Bengal
Treatment depends on the type and stage of leukaemia and typically includes chemotherapy to destroy cancerous cells, targeted therapy drugs for specific genetic mutations, and immunotherapy to boost the immune system's cancer-fighting ability. Stem cell or bone marrow transplantation may offer a cure for eligible patients, particularly in high-risk or relapsed disease.
Leukaemia is broadly divided into four main types based on how quickly it progresses and which cell line is affected: acute lymphocytic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia, both progressing rapidly and needing urgent treatment, and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia, which develop more slowly over months to years. Acute forms are more common in children, while chronic forms are more frequently diagnosed in older adults.
Hematology Specialists in West Bengal (0)
No specialists listed yet in West Bengal — browse all doctors instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is leukaemia hereditary?
Most cases are not directly inherited, though certain genetic disorders such as Down syndrome and a family history of blood cancers can raise the risk, so genetic counselling may be suggested in specific situations.
What's the difference between acute and chronic leukaemia?
Acute leukaemia progresses rapidly over days to weeks and needs urgent treatment, while chronic leukaemia develops slowly over months to years and may initially be monitored without immediate treatment.
Can leukaemia be cured?
Many forms, especially certain childhood acute lymphocytic leukaemias, have high cure rates with modern chemotherapy, and stem cell transplantation can offer a cure for eligible patients with high-risk or relapsed disease.
What increases the risk of developing leukaemia?
Prior radiation or chemotherapy exposure, certain chemicals like benzene, genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, and family history are recognized risk factors, though many cases occur without any clear identifiable cause.
How is leukaemia diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually starts with a complete blood count showing abnormal cell counts, followed by a bone marrow biopsy to confirm the type and guide specific treatment planning.