Best Leukemia Doctors in Hyderabad

Leukaemia, in its simplest terms, is a group of cancers characterised by the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. These abnormal cells hinder the production of normal blood cells, impairing the body's ability to fight off infections and carry oxygen. While its precise cause remains elusive, certain risk factors such as intense radiation, exposure to chemicals like benzene, viral infections, and genetic abnormalities have been identified.

In Hyderabad, Apollo Hospitals employs some of the best leukaemia treatment doctors for comprehensive disease management.

Types/Stages of Leukaemia

There are four primary types of leukaemia. Each type has its own staging system, which helps doctors develop personalised treatment plans:

• Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia (ALL): This rapidly progressing form typically affects children and impacts immune cells.

• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML): A common form of leukaemia originating in the bone marrow, affecting both adults and children.

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Slow-progressing CLL primarily affects individuals over 55 years.

• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML): Progressing slower than AML, CML is primarily seen in adults.

Symptoms of Leukaemia

The manifestation of leukaemia can vary significantly but often includes:

• Persistent fatigue

• Anaemia

• Frequent infections

• Fever and night sweats

• Increased bruising and bleeding

• Bone pain, swollen gums, skin rashes, headaches or vision problems, vomiting, enlarged lymph nodes and discomfort in the abdomen or chest

Tests to Diagnose Leukaemia

At Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, doctors for leukaemia treatment may recommend various tests to diagnose the cancer. These could include:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): To measure various components of your blood.

• Bone marrow biopsy: a procedure to extract a small amount of bone marrow for examination.

• Cytogenetic analysis: used to detect changes in chromosomes.

• Flow cytometry: this helps in determining their physical and chemical characteristics.

• Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH): a test to visualise and map genetic material within the patient's cells.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Leukaemia at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad

Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad offers a range of treatment options for leukaemia. Each treatment is personalised to the patient's needs based on the type and stage of the disease. These include:

• Chemotherapy: This involves the use of medication to kill cancer cells. It is often the primary treatment for many types of leukaemia.

• Stem Cell Transplantation: This procedure replaces diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells from the patient or a donor.

• Radiation Therapy: High doses of radiation are used to damage or kill leukaemia cells.

• Targeted Therapy: These treatments specifically target cancer cells, halting their growth or killing them.

• Immunotherapy: Harnesses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer cells. Several types of immunotherapies are used, including monoclonal antibodies and donor lymphocyte infusions.