Leukemia
Dr. Cándido L. Otero is a retired pathologist in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Otero is a doctor who specializes in the study of bodily fluids and tissues. As a pathologist, Dr. Otero did two Fellowships, the first Fellowship was Cytopathology, the study of the cell, at Shans Jacksonville, Florida and the second Felllowship, Oncological... more
Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow. It reduces the capacity of the body to fight infection. Many types of leukemia exist such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and chronic lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a life-threatening disease in which the cells that normally develop into lymphocytes are cancerous and replacing the normal lymphocytes in the bone marrow. Patients with ALL develop fever, weakness, paleness, anemia among others.
Leukemias are cancer of the white blood cells or cells that develop into white blood cells. The causes of most types of leukemia is no yet know. However, exposure to radiation, chemotherapy, chemicals (benzene, chemicals in tobacco smoke, pesticides etc.) Some hereditary conditions are also a cause for leukemia.
Treatment includes chemotherapies, immunotherapy as well as targeted cells therapy. Both immunotherapy and targeted cell therapy are more beneficial since they are directly killing the cancerous cells, leaving the normal cells untouched.
Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is typically a slow-growing cancer. They begin in the lymphocytes in the bone marrow extending into the blood. CLL is the most common chronic adult leukemia.
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) occurs when a pluripotent stem cell becomes malignant. CML is a cancer of the bone marrow that accounts for only 2 percent of childhood leukemias. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is represented by an aggressive condition and it develop quite rapidly, therefore the treatment should begin as soon as possible.
The NIH recommend chemotherapy which is the major treatment. During 2023 a new treatments modalities known as meningitis inhibitors are in the process to be approved as the next class of drug of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Leukemia treatment:
1. Chemotherapy
3. Stem cell transplantation
4. CAR T cell Therapy
5. Targeted cell therapy
6. Clinical trials - as mentioned earlier.
If you have been diagnosed with Leukemia, contact your hematology Oncologist in your are.
