Contact
Home

25. Blood Cancer-Leukemia

 

LEUKEMIA

  

(A) Types of leukemia

        (1) Acute Myeloid Leukemia

        (2) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

        (3) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

        (4) Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

        (5) Hairy cell Leukemia 

(1)  Acute myeloid leukemia 

(i)   Overview Acute Myeloid Leukemia: -

                 Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated. It is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.

Normally the bone marrow produces stem cells (immature cells) that develop into mature cells. There are three types of mature blood cells.

  • Red blood cells that carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of the body.
  • White blood cells that fight infection and disease.
  • Platelets that help prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form.

In AML, the stem cells usually develop into a type of immature white blood cell called myeloblasts. The myeloblasts in AML are abnormal and do not mature into healthy white blood cells. Occasionally in AML, too many stem cells develop into abnormal red blood cells or platelets. These abnormal white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets are also called leukemia cells or blasts. Leukemia cells are unable to do their usual work and can build up in the bone marrow and blood so there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. When this happens, infection, anemia, or easy bleeding may occur. The leukemia cells can spread outside the blood to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system, skin, and gums.

 (ii) Risk of developing AML: -

·         Being male

·         Smoking especially after age 60

·         Having had treatment for ALL in the past

·         Being exposed to atomic bomb radiation or the chemical benzene. 

(iii) Possible signs and symptoms of AML: -

             May include fever, feeling tired, and easy bruising or bleeding. 

(iv) Diagnosis as per modern science: -

  • Physical exam and history
  • Complete blood count
  • Peripheral blood smear
  • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
  • Cytogenetic analysis

 

(2) Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia 

(i) Overview of Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia: -

It is also called acute lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer of the blood and the bone marrow. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated.

Normally the bone marrow produces stem cells (immature cells) that develop into mature blood cells. In ALL, too many stem cells develop into a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. These lymphocytes may also be called lymphoblasts or leukemia cells. There are three types of lymphocytes.

  • B lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection.
  • T lymphocytes that help B lymphocytes make the antibodies that help fight infection.
  • Natural killer cells that attack viruses.

In ALL, the lymphocytes are not able to fight infection very well. Also the number of lymphocytes increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This may cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding. The cancer can also spread to the central nervous system. 

(ii) Risk factors for ALL may include

  • Being older than 70
  • Being male
  • Past treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
  • Exposure to nuclear radiation.
  • Having a certain disorder such as down’s syndrome.

(iii) Signs and symptoms of ALL

  • Weakness and fever
  • Easy bruising and bleeding
  • Under the skin bleeding
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Weight loss or loss of appetite
  • Pain in the bones or stomach
  • Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs
  • Painless lump in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin.

(iv) Diagnosis as per modern science

  • Physical exam and history
  • Complete blood count
  • Peripheral blood smear
  • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
  • Cytogenic analysis
  • Immunophenotyping

 

(3) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 

(i) Overview: -

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a blood and bone marrow disease that usually gets worse slowly. Cll often occurs during or after middle age, it rarely occurs in children.

In CLL too many stem cells develop into a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. There are 3 types of lymphocytes.

  • B lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection
  • T lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection
  • Natural killer cells that attack viruses

The lymphocytes in CLL are not able to fight infection very well. Also, as the amount of lymphocytes increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. 

(ii) Risk factors

  • Being middle aged or elder
  • A family history of CLL or cancer of the lymph system

(iii) Signs and symptoms

  • Painless swelling of the lymphnodes in the neck, underarm, stomach or groin.
  • Feeling very tired
  • Pain or fullness below the ribs
  • Fever and infection
  • Weight loss for no known reason

(iv) Diagnosis as per modern science

  • Physical exam and history
  • Complete blood count
  • Cytogenic analysis
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy

 

(4) Chronic myelogenous leukemia 

(i) Overview: -

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a slowly progessing blood and bone marrow disease that usually occurs during or after middle age, and rarely occurs in children.

In CML, the body produces too many bone marrow stem cells to develop into a type of white blood cell called granulocytes. Some of these bone marrow stem cells never become mature white blood cells. These are called blasts. Over time, the granulocytes and blasts crowd out the red blood cells and platelets in the bone marrow. 

(ii) Signs and symptoms

  • Tiredness that does not go away
  • Lack of energy
  • Weight loss
  • Night sweats
  • Fever
  • Pain or fullness below the ribs on the left side

(iii) Risk factors

A major risk factor is a genetic disorder called Philadelphia syndrome, where the DNA produces an enzyme which makes too many white cells from stem cells. 

(iv) Diagnosis as per modern science

  • Physical exam and history
  • Complete blood count
  • Blood chemistry studies
  • Cytogenic analysis
  • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy

 

(5) Hairy cell Leukemia 

(i) Overview: -

Hairy Cell Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This rare type of leukemia gets worse slowly or not at all. The disease is called hairy cell leukemia because the leukemia cells look hairy when viewed under a microscope.

In hairy cell leukemia, too many stem cells develop into a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. There are 3 types of lymphocytes.

In hairy cell leukemia, the B type lymphocytes do not work normally. Also, as the number of lymphocytes increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. This may cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding. Some of the leukemia cells may collect in the spleen and cause it to swell. 

(ii) Risk factor

Old age is considered to be a major risk factor 

(iii) Signs and symptoms

·         Weakness of feeling tired

·         Fever or frequent infections

·         Easy bruising or bleeding

·         Shortness of breath

·         Weight loss for no known reason

·         Painfull lumps in the neck, underarm stomach or groin 

(iv) Diagnosis as per modern science

  • Physical exam and history
  • Complete blood count
  • Peripheral blood smear
  • Bone marrow biopsy
  • Immunophenotyping
  • CT SCAN 

 

(B) Treatment as per Ayurveda: -  

Results of 770 patients of various types of cancer treated at DARF during Jan.2004 to Dec.2004. 

(1) Total no. of Primary cancer 504. In all 504 patients with primary cancer of various types were treated at DARF. 

  • 13% patients were rendered disease free
  • 20.63% patients were markedly improved
  • 65.27% patients were improved
  • 0.9% patients were uncured

(2) Total no. of Secondary (metastases) cancer 266. In all 266 patients with metastases of different types were treated at DARF. 

  • 12.03% patients were rendered disease free
  • 18.04% patients were markedly improved
  • 68.79% patients were improved
  • 1.12% patients were uncured

The above results show the high effectiveness of DARF anti cancer therapy. 

(3) Ayurvedic herbs used in the treatment of leukemia : -

(Keep watching this space for more results. To be added soon article on research on high affectivity of herbs in cancer.)

 
(Prepared by Divyajyot Ayurvedic Research foundation India. We are conducting research and treatment in Ayurvedic herbal cure of cancer since last 25 years. The data and information contained on this site is based on Ayurvedic herbal wisdom and our research.)