ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA (AML)
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made.The incidence of AML increases with age it is the most common acute leukemia in adults, with a median age of onset of 50 years and is mostly seen in males.
Signs and symptoms that allow its easy detection include:
- Fever
- Bone pain
- Lethargy and fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Pale skin
- Frequent infections
- Easy bruising
- Unusual bleeding, such as frequent nosebleeds and bleeding from the gums
If you have any of the above signs and symptoms visit our team of specialists at Paras hospital. We offer complete cancer care to our patients right from cancer screening, cancer education to complete diagnosis and treatment.
Causes
- AML is caused by damage to the DNA of developing cells in your bone marrow. When this happens, blood cell production goes wrong. The bone marrow produces immature cells that develop into leukemic white blood cells called myeloblasts. These abnormal cells are unable to function properly, and they can build up and crowd out healthy cells
- AML may occur as a secondary cancer after chemotherapy or radiation therapy for a different type of cancer
Risks
The various risks factors associated with AML include:
- Smoking after age 60 doubles your risk of getting AML, and 20 percent of cases overall relate to smoking tobacco.
- Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment
- Exposure to atomic bomb radiation or a nuclear reactor accident
- Exposure to the chemical benzene
Treatment
Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. Treatment of AML usually involves two phases:
- Remission induction therapy—to kill leukaemia cells
- Maintenance therapy—to kill any remaining leukaemia cells that could grow and cause a relapse
Treatment options include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
We at Paras hospitals deliver a wide range of sophisticated internal and external beam radiation treatments that is available only in the best of radiation centres across the world, Paras hospitals being one of them.
