Your Burning Questions about Leukemia Answered: Risks & Symptoms

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

FEATURED EXPERT DR HABIBAH ABDUL HALIM Consultant Internal Medicine Physician & Haematologist Columbia Asia Hospital Bukit Rimau

WHAT IS LEUKEMIA?

“Leukemia is a blood cancer that starts off with mutation of the haematopoeitic stem cells in the bone marrow,” says consultant haematologist Dr Habibah Abdul Halim.

• ‘Haematopoetic’ is a word used to describe anything related to the creation of any blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelet.
• Meanwhile, stem cells are immature cells that act like blank canvases. Under the proper stimuli, they can differentiate into various types of cells as needed by the body.
• Hence, haematopoetic stem cells are precursor cells that can give rise to all the blood cells in our body—red blood cells, white blood cells, even the platelets.

“Leukemia, or blood cancer, develops when mutations occur in the genetic materials of these precursor cells,” Dr Habibah explains.

She elaborates: “These mutations will lead to changes in these cells in terms of their shape and/or size. These mutated cells will then divide uncontrollably and will lose their normal function.”

WHAT DOES LEUKEMIA DO TO THE BODY?

Dr Habibah goes on to share that these uncontrollably dividing cancer cells, also called blast cells, can lead to further problems such as the following.

• Bone marrow failure, which can lead to low numbers of blood cells being produced (cytopenia) and subsequent health problems such as anaemia. Severe low blood cell count can be fatal if not treated.
• Abnormally high white blood cell count or hyperleukocytosis, a medical emergency that can lead to potentially fatal complications of the nerves, brain, spinal cord, lungs, and/or gastrointestinal system if not given immediate medical attention.

DO WE KNOW WHAT TRIGGERS THE CELL CHANGES THAT LEAD TO LEUKEMIA?

For most cases, the cause is unknown.

“However,” says Dr Habibah, “there are identified risk factors.”

• Exposure to radiation. For example, survivors of the nuclear bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki toward the end of World War 2.
• Chemotherapy. Cancer survivors that have undergone this treatment have a risk of developing leukemia.
• People born with irregularities in their chromosomes (cytogenic abnormalities). An example is people born with Down syndrome.

“There are also postulations that air pollution, smoking, and food additives such flavouring, colouring, and preservatives can be a possible cause,” adds Dr Habibah.

WHAT ARE SOME POSSIBLE SIGNS THAT ONE MAY HAVE LEUKEMIA?

“Most often, leukemia occurs over a very short period of time, with symptoms manifesting in as short as 2 weeks,” Dr Habibah shares.

“Therefore, it is recommended to consult a doctor if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned here, especially when these symptoms are persistent, unexplained, and worsening over time,” she adds.