"Leukemia is not synonymous with death": advances and challenges of a disease that diagnoses 2,000 Argentines per year

April 21 is commemorated World Awareness Day for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (LMA), an opportunity to report on this disease, which is an oncohaematological disease that can spread rapidly and conforms to the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. Therefore, the Foundation for the fight against leukemia (Fundaleu) emphasizes the importance of urgent diagnosis and the expectations that generate new information on its approach.

"His progress is very fast, hence his name" acute ", it is very important to make the diagnosis and start treatment as soon as possible to improve the prognosis of the patient," said the head of the service Hematology of the Foundation. fight against leukemia (Fundaleu), Isolda Fernández.

The presence of an AML can be suspected with the results of a routine blood test, as abnormal levels of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets appear rapidly during a complete blood count. Then, the diagnosis will be confirmed by badyzing bone marrow cells to determine the type of leukemia and prognosis.

The challenge is for the patient to go to a health center if he has symptoms, especially since they are not very specific. It is important not to alarm the community, but to keep in mind that a persistent fever, infections, shortness of breath, a tendency to develop bruising and bleeding, small spots on the skin caused by bleeding called petechia, a weakness can be a sign of the disease. or fatigue and weight loss or appetite.

Although there are no national registers or statistics extrapolating international data, it is estimated that in Argentina there are approximately 2,000 new cases of acute myeloid leukemia.

The prognosis of this disease varies, among other factors, depending on the age of onset: in children under 60 years, about 4 out of 10 patients are cured. However, from this age, the figure falls between 5 and 15% 2. There are different types of treatment for this condition: chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, other oncology therapies and supportive therapies.

"With the constant research and development of new drugs, we have fortunately more and more alternatives for the different types of leukemia in general and for AML in particular." The standard treatment is based on intensive chemotherapy for patients young people, chemotherapy contraindicated, there are new treatments that include some already approved drugs and others under development, "explained Fernandez.

"Leukemia is not synonymous with death." In recent years, we have seen significant advances in acute and chronic leukemias. People facing these diagnoses must know that they are not alone, but that there are some very good doctors. in our country to cure his illness and each time with better therapeutic tools, "said Fundaleu's medical and scientific director, Miguel A. Pavlovsky.

There are different types of leukemia and it is now very important to know the subtype of disease presented by each patient, based on more precise molecular studies: it allows to "put the name and the first name" to the patient . disease, as this deeper understanding of the disease by the medical community makes it possible to design specific drugs that attack very specific alterations and mechanisms.

"Knowing that over time you will be able to tell the patient which treatment plan will benefit him the most, just for an illness in which there is no time to waste," Isolda concluded. Fernández.

What is leukemia?

Blood cells are produced by the bone marrow. When they divide and mature, they become blood cells of different types.

When one of the cells that will form the white blood cells changes and becomes a leukemic cell, it does not ripen anymore normally, it usually divides faster than normal and does not die when it should, but it does not. accumulates in the bone marrow. to normal. At some point, they leave the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream, causing an increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood and preventing the rest of normal cells, such as red blood cells and platelets.