What is the Survival Rate for Bone Marrow Cancer?

Determining the survival rates of procedures is the main criteria followed by several doctors to discuss a patient’s prognosis or outlook towards the disease. For a normal patient suffering from bone marrow cancer, these statistics might not be very important but overall this data is the main attraction of a bunch of people looking for cancer treatments. Since this data or statistics creates either a positive or negative image of every procedure amongst the people. Today it is an era of technology and internet where everything is available on the internet and so are these survival rate after procedure statistics.

Normally, people who develop bone marrow cancer and opt for a procedure and continue treatment reaches attest 2 to 5-year survival rates. But this does not mean they only have a life of 2 to 5 years. There are many cancer patients who survive very long for over 15 years. Every individual responds differently towards the treatment and if no complications arise than an individual can survive longer durations.

What are the lethal prevalent types of bone marrow cancer-causing deaths?

The two main types of bone marrow cancer which are deadly and cause deaths are as follows:

1) Osteosarcoma 2) Ewing’s sarcoma

Both these cancers if detected early can be cured by chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation or even a combination of both in some rare cases. However, the treatment is expensive and chemotherapy even has some side effects like hair loss, weight loss, nausea, pain, and fatigue etc.

What is the life expectancy after being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer?

Up to some extent, the expectancy status after bone marrow cancer depends on questions like:

1) How much has cancer spread and reached to which organs of the body?2) How controllable it’s further spreading in the body is?3) Whether it can be completely removed from the body or not?4) How much can the patient withstand the pain and suffering of the cancer treatment and other symptoms?

Some of the bone cancers require surgical treatment like in case of osteosarcoma. If it is primary cancer than survival rate is 85% of the patients survive for over 5 years. However, if cancer has already started to spread than the survival rate declines. Similarly, in Ewing’s sarcoma as primary cancer has 60% of survival over 5 years and if it’s secondary or spreading than rate declines.

So the survival rate of the cancer patient is entirely linked with the stage at which cancer is diagnosed and how faster it keeps spreading.

Also Read: Are Bone Marrow Transplants Successful?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is the world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across the world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

Related FAQs: 

Q: What do metastatic or secondary bone cancer mean?

A: When cancer spreads from its main source of origin to another organ or place inside the body than it is known as secondary or metastatic cancer. Bone marrow cancer in most of the cases is secondary cancer which originates at some other place in the body and spreads and reaches the bones.

Q: What are the risk factors which can trigger the bone marrow cancer?

A: Several risk factors are chemotherapy or radiation therapy, gene mutations or retinoblastoma genes, metal rod implantation due to bone fractures, hereditary conditions involving Paget’s disease of bone, tuberous sclerosis, and Rothmund-Thomson syndrome etc.

Q: What is the main cause of bone marrow cancer? What are its main symptoms?

A: Like any other cancer, this one also arises when an abnormal growth of cells takes place but inside the bone marrow. So when the normal cell decision cycles get disrupted and uncontrolled cell growth occurs either because of hereditary or any environmental factor development of bone marrow cancer appears. Its main symptoms include tingling, numbness, blood flow obstruction at cancer site causing cold foot or hands etc.

What are the current treatments for beta-thalassemia?

A person with beta thalassemia minor has slightly low hemoglobin level in the blood. It is a sort of mild anemia caused due to the beta-thalassemia condition which closely resembles mild iron-deficiency anemia.

In thalassemia minor, the patients normally do not require any specific beta-thalassemia treatment. It is a kind of hereditary condition and the patient must be aware of it. Although, sometimes the physician might mistakenly consider it as an iron deficiency disorder.

Beta-thalassemia treatment depends upon which kind of thalassemia you have and how severe it is. 

In case of thalassemia major few of the following treatment options are available:

•     Iron chelation therapy
•     Transfusion therapy which sometimes has to be long-term
•    Splenectomy is also required at times in severe cases during         beta-  thalassemia treatment
•   Hematopoietic transplantation is another choice to treat the     condition
•     Another supportive measure etc.

If treatment is mandatory for mild thalassemia?

Every mild thalassemia does not require treatment. Although some of the cases might require occasional transfusions like after any surgery or pregnancy etc. It becomes very important to share your medical history with your doctor to avoid complications during any procedure you intend to undergo. Beta-thalassemia treatment is given to those patients who require it.

What treatments are preferred for moderate to severe thalassemia?

Among several options of beta-thalassemia treatments following are the ones which are preferred mostly in maximum cases:

• Long-term blood transfusions: During beta-thalassemia treatment blood transfusion is required frequently and usually every few weeks in severe thalassemia cases. Prolonged blood transfusions lead to an iron buildup in the body causing unintended damage to organs like liver, heart etc. Further to eliminate excessive accumulated iron few medications can be prescribed to the patient for a specific time duration.

• Stem cell transplant: A bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplant might be required during beta-thalassemia treatment in adults as well as in children who are born with thalassemia. This helps to minimize the blood transfusions and drug dependency for beta-thalassemia treatment. However, this procedure requires stem cell infusion of a compatible donor which mainly is a sibling in most cases. Matching stem cells can be looked for even in cord blood banks, but finding a match is a tedious task in that case.

Is there any safe home remedy to rely upon as beta-thalassemia treatment?

Thalassemia can be managed and its symptoms can be minimized without actually looking for beta-thalassemia treatment. Following are few home tips:

• You must avoid excessive iron intake until your doctor recommends you to take it as a supplement.

• Eating a healthy balanced diet helps to combat condition without beta-thalassemia treatment.

• Chances of catching any sort of infections must be minimized by maintaining hygiene and avoiding public places and taking vaccines. This prevents further complications during beta-thalassemia treatment especially in patients who underwent spleen removal.

Also Read: What is the success rate of bone marrow transplantation?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is the world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across the world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

Are there side effects of Hodgkin's lymphoma treatments?

The treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma aims to destroy all lymphoma cells. However, like any other treatment, this one also involves some unwanted side effects. Every individual is different and hence the impact of drugs also varies which results in different side effects experienced by every individual undergoing treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. These symptoms can be mild to moderate or even severe. Although, many of the side effects are common and every individual might not experience it while on treatment. 


Chemotherapy is used to kill the cancerous cells of the body. It involves either intravenous or oral administration of the drugs which reach the entire body via the bloodstream. Chemo is one of the main lines of treatment for treating Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This is even given in combination with other anti-cancer drugs or even is followed by radiation therapy, at times.

Which drugs are used in the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

A variety of drugs in combination with chemo is an effective way for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Because different drugs have a different mechanism of actions to kill the cancerous cells of the body. Some of the drugs include: 


• ABVD which involves a proper regimen including Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine
• BEACOPP which involves a proper regimen involving Bleomycin, Etoposide, Adriamycin, Cyclophosphamide, Oncovin, Procarbazine, Prednisone
• Stanford V involving a regimen of Doxorubicin, Mechlorethamine, Vincristine, Vinblastine, Bleomycin, Etoposide, Prednisone and followed by radiation therapy


Radiation therapy is also given after several other drug regimens for more effective coverage of killing the cancerous cells of the body.

What are the side effects of treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Many unwanted side effects are caused during the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The effects vary depending on the type of drug therapy and dosage used. However, some of the common side effects include:

• Hair loss

• Extreme levels of fatigue because of lesser blood cells

• Mouth soreness

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea and vomiting

• Excessive bleeding or easy bruising because of lack of blood platelets

• Peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage

• Bladder irritation can also be caused by the high dose of drugs

• Diarrhea or changes in bowel habits like constipation etc.

Many of these symptoms appear temporarily and fades away after treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is stopped. However, sometimes severe symptoms appear and because of that therapy has to be stopped temporarily.

Are there any long-term side effects of treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Some of the chemo drugs used during treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma leave a long-lasting side effect on the body of a person. Some of these appear even later after few years of stopping the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Some of the commonly appearing long-term side effects include:


• The lung damage caused by prolonged Bleomycin therapy and because of this, even pulmonary function tests are required to analyze the condition. 
• Some drugs trigger another kind of cancers at later stages of life like leukemia mainly in radiation therapy patients.
• Doxorubicin can cause heart damage upon prolonged treatment and hence, heart function tests are often recommended in such cases.
• Some of the drugs involved in the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma negatively impacts growth and fertility of the growing children or even the adults etc.


These symptoms do not go away easily and proper treatment is required. Sometimes stopping the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma permanently or switching to other available options is best. Your physician is the best one to discuss your after effects post-treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. If you experience any unwanted symptoms during or after the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, then you must certainly discuss the details with your doctor.

Also Read: What are the first signs of lymphoma cancer?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

How long is the treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the cancer of the lymphatic system. The entire lymph system helps in combating with diseases and fighting with infections. It helps in keeping the fluids moving within the body. The origin of NHL can be anywhere amongst the lymph tissue including tonsils, lymph nodes, and even inside certain bones and organs.

Chemotherapy is an effective way of treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by using certain anti-cancer drugs via the intravenous or oral route. These drugs reach the bloodstream and effectively combats with the lymphoma condition and help in treating it. Depending upon the stage and advancement of NHL, treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is done either by chemo alone or in combination with another line of treatments like radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

What is adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Adjuvant chemotherapy is a kind of therapy which is given post-surgical removal of lymphoma during treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, to prevent reoccurrence and better recovery. Surgery can ideally remove all the visible cancers however, it might still persist so treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can last for 4-6 months. This therapy is a major part of treatment in breast and colon cancers. In certain NHL cases, the chemotherapy treatment might even last for a year or more, depending upon the patient need.

What role does palliative or supportive care play in the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Another important aspect of NHL treatment includes palliative or supportive care. This helps in preventing as well as treating infections during therapy. It even helps in minimizing or combating with lymphoma symptoms.

It is important to discuss all treatment options before starting treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with your doctor including its possible side effects or long term after effects as well. Always consider sharing your entire past medical history to avoid any sudden complications during or post NHL treatment.

There is no harm in taking second opinions during treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma but it is important to pick the best of the available services and doctors. 

A team of doctors might include:

• A hematologist or medical oncologist who treats lymphoma with immunotherapy or chemotherapy or other suitable or combination treatment.
• A radiation oncologist treats lymphoma with radiation therapy.
• A bone marrow transplant doctor is specialist in treating all sorts of cancers or diseases related to stem cell or bone marrow, etc.

All sorts of lymphomas take the different span of treatment as per their staging and at times slow-growing lymphoma needs a watchful waiting before a certain treatment can be started and hence waiting period might also add up to the treatment time and proper recovery from it.

Also Read: What is the best treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

Related FAQs:

Q: Is there any completely curing treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

A: This disease is one of the treatable forms of cancer. A less prolonged disease has relatively more survival rates like a 5-year-old NHL has a survival rate of 69 percent and a 10-year-old disease has only 59 percent. With current advancement in the medical field has further increased the survival rates to 80-85 percent.

Q: Which tests are used for diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

A: Before treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma tests like biopsy, blood tests, chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, ultrasound, PET scan are done mainly for diagnosis so that root cause can be identified and accordingly treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be decided.

Q: How is the seriousness of non-Hodgkin lymphoma quantified?

A: NHL has different stages from 1 to 4 and different treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are available as per that. Lower the number and lesser it has spread outside the lymphatic system and finally lesser serious the condition becomes.

How bad is lymphoma cancer?

Lymphoma cancer affects the lymphocytes which are a kind of blood cells. These lymphocytes play a vital role in building up of the good immune system in the body and lymphocytes helps to fight with infections and diseases.

What are the types of lymphomas?

Lymphomas are mainly of two types which include:

• Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Both the lymphomas respond to different treatments so before starting with any of the treatment it is mandatory to identify the type and your doctor will be able to help you with the proper diagnosis of the lymphomas.

What is so bad about Lymphoma Cancer?

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a really bad type of cancer since it cannot be easily cured. However, this disease is treatable and its symptoms can be controlled and minimized with care. B and T cells are mainly affected by lymphoma cancers. 

• B lymphocytes are mainly responsible to help in combating germs and infections by making proteins or antibodies to fight against germs.

• T lymphocytes have its various types and some of it is responsible for germ destruction and others are responsible for governing the immune system actions.

Lymphoma cancer can originate from anywhere in the body. Since lymphoma is a blood cancer and blood is present in the entire body so its spread is even faster than other cancers. So it becomes difficult to manage and control the spread of lymphoma cancer further. Early diagnosis and treatment can only serve the key to manage lymphoma cancer.

What are the causes of lymphoma cancer?

Uncontrolled growth of the abnormal cells leads to cancer formation in the body. The lymphatic system is connected to the entire body. Developing cancer in the lymphatic system spreads quickly with ease into several tissues and organs. A lymphoma can even spread and reach out to the liver, lungs, and bone marrow as well. Although, the real cause of lymphoma cannot be traced in most cases.

One after the other consecutive lymph nodes gets affected in the Hodgkin lymphoma and whereas tumors might appear in different lymph nodes in the non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

What are the symptoms of lymphoma cancer?

The first sign of lymphoma cancer is enlargement of the lymph nodes, although these can be even painless. Besides these other symptoms might include:

• Sudden extreme weight loss

• Hepatomegaly condition

• Fever

• Extreme fatigue or tiredness

• Night Sweats

• Itchy skin etc.

These symptoms indicate the presence of lymphoma cancer and must not be ignored. Although, a complete evaluation is must for a confirmed diagnosis and your doctor can help you with this.

Also Read: How long will someone who is not receiving treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma will live?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

Related FAQs:

Q: How can lymphoma cancer be differently identified?

A: Lymphatic cancers are identified easily by the type of immune cells affected. Its two main types of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin are also subcategorized, however, most common type includes the effect on B and T cells. Hodgkin lymphoma can be identified by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells.

Q: How reliable is the lymphoma cancer treatment?

A: Early diagnosis can help in getting early treatment and there becomes a good hope for a successful treatment. A real delay causes the condition to worse and later success in treatment also declines.

Q: Does the disease brings in any emotional trauma?

A: Yes, it does bring a very emotional and personal experience. It might even entirely change a person’s perspective of life with the flush of anger, denial, shock, rage, grief, and sadness, with a final acceptance that life might end there and then. A person needs emotional family support throughout to combat with the disease. Acceptance of disease and family support gives a motivation to deal with the disease.

What is the overall cost of treatment for sickle cell anaemia in india?

What is Sickle Cell Anaemia?

Sickle cell anaemia is a medical condition where the red blood cells are produced defectively. It is a genetic disorder which is inherited. In a healthy human being, the red blood cells are disc-shaped so that they have increased surface area and the cells can pass through narrow passages easily. But in the case of sickle cell anaemia, the cells are crescent-shaped and this makes them sticky and also reduces the surface area for carrying oxygen. The blood flow is slowed down or stopped and the oxygen content is also reduced.

What are the symptoms observed in a patient with Sickle Cell Anaemia?

A variety of symptoms are seen in patients with sickle cell anaemia. These are mostly related to the destruction of red blood cells and the complications that follow. The following are the common symptoms seen in a patient with sickle cell anaemia:

·  Anaemia: This is a condition where the amount of oxygen transferred to the body cells is reduced due to the rapid destruction of red blood cells. In sickle cell anaemia, the cells are destroyed within 10 to 20 days, whereas in an adult human being the cells are destroyed within 120 days. This leads to tiredness and fatigue.

·  Infections: In sickle cell anaemia, the cells cause damage to the spleen. The spleen is responsible for providing immunity. In a sickle cell anaemia patient, the immune system is relatively low, making them prone to infections.

·  Painful episodes: The sickle-shaped cells obstruct the flow of blood through narrow blood vessels. This can cause serious pain within the body. the pain may last for a few minutes to hours and sometimes, even weeks. The patient may also experience bone pain. The intensity of pain also varies from person to person. In some serious cases of sickle cell anaemia, the patient may even have the need to be hospitalised. The hands and feet also swell up due to this obstruction.

·  Stunted growth: oxygen is vital for the growth of cells. when there is less oxygen as in the case of sickle cell anaemia, there is less growth and this causes a delay in growth.

·  Visual disturbance: The small blood vessels of the retina are clogged by the red blood cells and this leads to visual problems.

What are the treatment options for Sickle Cell Anaemia?

There is no treatment to cure sickle cell anaemia, but many therapeutic treatments are there which help alleviate the symptoms.

·   Pain medications: Depending on the intensity of pain, the doctor can prescribe simple non-steroidal drugs to stronger steroidal pain killers as a part of the treatment.

·   Antibiotics: Patients are given antibiotics as their immunity is naturally low and the risk of infection is high. This treatment is only for prevention of infections.

· Hydroxyurea: Another medicine that is still under clinical research is a  hydroxyurea. This drug is said to stimulate the spleen to release foetal haemoglobin cells which is said to prevent the formation of sickle cells. There are some controversies regarding the use of this drug as it increases the risk of infections.

·  Blood Transfusions: Since there is less amount of functional red blood cells circulating in the body, the amount of oxygen is also less. Regular transfusions can provide temporary relief to the patient but come with many complications like increased risk of infections and iron build-up.

·   Bone Marrow Transplantation: In this treatment, bone marrow stem cells are collected from an appropriate donor, matched with the patient and stored. The patient is then given high doses of chemotherapy so that the stem cells are destroyed. The stem cells are then transplanted to the patient so that healthy cells are produced. This procedure has high risks and is usually considered only in children with severe symptoms.

What is the overall cost of treatment in India?

The cost of treatment for sickle cell anaemia depends on the mode of treatment selected for the patient. If the patient is planning to undergo blood transfusions, the cost of a single transfusion is around ₹500 to ₹900 for one single bag of packed cell unit.

If the patient is considering a stem cell transplantation procedure, the cost of the treatment is much more. The rough estimate of cost for a stem cell transplantation is ₹20 lakh to ₹40 lakh.

Also Read: Can a sickle cell crisis occur in patient with sickle cell trait?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across the world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

What are the liver function parameters that would be affected by a Sickle Cell Crisis and why?

What is Sickle Cell crisis?

To understand what sickle cell crisis is, one needs to understand what sickle cell anaemia is. Sickle cell anaemia is an inherent form of anaemia which affects the morphology of the red blood cells. In a healthy individual, the red blood cells are disc-shaped and have maximum efficiency for transport of oxygen and passing through narrow pathways. But, in sickle cell anaemia, the red blood cells are crescent-shaped or sickle-shaped and this change in shape causes various effects in the person’s body.

The changed shape of the cells reduces the surface area making it difficult for the transport of oxygen. The cells also break down easily due to haemolysis. The crescent shape of the cells prevents them from easily moving through the blood vessels and may cause obstruction of the blood vessels.  This obstruction leads to a painful condition called sickle cell crisis.

Where is the pain usually felt?

Painful episodes due to sickle cell crisis are seen in many parts of the body. Some of the common regions are:

·         Chest·         Limbs·         Digits (toes and fingers)

Sometimes, the pain may be unbearable and last for over weeks, but sometimes, the pain is mild and disappears in a few hours. Depending on the pain levels, patient is treated.

What happens in Sickle Cell Crisis?

In sickle cell crisis, the sickle celled red blood cells block the narrow blood vessels. The exact mechanism of this procedure is unknown but researchers say that the “sickling” process occurs due to certain triggers. Some of these triggers are reduced oxygen content, sudden strenuous exercise, the sudden change in temperature, dehydration, infections and even stressful conditions. When the blood cells are stuck, they obstruct the flow of blood and this leads to pain.

How is Sickle Cell crisis managed?

The management of sickle cell crisis is dependent on the intensity of pain. If the pain levels are mild to moderate, the patient has advised the use of over-the-counter pain medications. Warm baths, massages and hot packs also provide relief. One must remember to keep hydrated throughout the day.

In case of severe pain, sickle cell crisis can be managed by pain medications prescribed by the doctor. This can be simple non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or stronger steroidal drugs and opioids.

What are the liver function test parameters that are affected in sickle cell crisis?

Liver function test is a test which measures the values of substances commonly found in the liver. An increase or decrease in these levels denotes problems in liver functioning. The functions of the liver are affected in sickle cell crisis because of the condition itself and also the treatment. Sickling within the liver, gallstones and frequent transfusions are some of the main causes of hepatic malfunction.

Sickled cells which lie trapped in the sinusoids of the liver are engulfed by the white blood cells, leading to hepatomegaly, a condition where the size of the liver is increased.

It has been observed that patients with sickle cell anaemia show increased levels of ferritin due to frequent blood transfusions. Many showed elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT).  Alkaline phosphatase levels were also seen to be increased in patients with sickle cell crisis. The bilirubin content was seen to be more than 2mg/dl which is more than the normal levels. Bilirubin is the yellowish pigment seen after a breakdown of red blood cells. All these features were seen to be a result of either sickle cell crisis directly or due to the treatment for sickle cell crisis.

These elevated values of certain substances in the liver, as seen on the liver function test confirm the various complications of sickle cell crisis. One must be aware of these complications so that the serious consequences can be avoided at the earliest.

Also Read: Is there a cure for Sickle Cell Disease?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

How does Sickle Cell disease affect the Spleen?

BloodCancerCure

What is Sickle Cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is a condition in which the red blood cells are inherently produced with morphologic deformities. In sickle cell disease, the red blood cells are in the shape of a crescent instead of disk shape. The change in the shape of these cells reduces the surface area and this leads to reduced oxygen transportation. Along with this, the sickled red blood cells also undergo a process called sickling. They form clumps or adhere to the walls of blood vessels and cause obstruction to the blood flow. Due to sickling of cells, there is reduced oxygen flow to the cells and this leads to severe pain in a condition termed as sickle cell crisis.

What are the symptoms of Sickle Cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition. The symptoms are often seen since birth. 

Following are some of the symptoms of sickle cell disease:

·     Anaemia- Due to the destruction of blood cells, and reduced surface area of the cells, there is less oxygen being transported to the body. This condition is called anaemia.

·    Sickle cell crisis: As mentioned above, sickling of cells leads to obstruction of blood vessels which leads to painful episodes. This condition is called Sickle cell crisis. It is most commonly experienced in the limbs and digits and also the chest region.

·   Lowered immunity: The risk of contracting infection is high in patients with sickle cell disease. This is because, the spleen, which is an organ responsible for the immunity of the body is damaged by the sickle cells.

   

   Growth problems: Since the body does not receive enough oxygen, there is deficiency in the growth of the cells. There may even be problems with the development of the individual, both physically and mentally.

·    Problems with vision: The sickling of cells takes place even in the vessels of the retina, leading to vision problems.

How does Sickle Cell disease affect the spleen?

The spleen is an organ which is responsible for the protection of the body and the immune functions.it is located at the upper left side of abdomen and plays a major role in the body’s defence mechanism. In sickle cell disease, the spleen does not function after four to five months of age. This is because the spleen undergoes a phenomenon called splenic sequestration.

What is splenic sequestration?

When sickle cells pass through the blood vessels of the spleen and cause obstruction to the vessels, it is called splenic sequestration. Consequentially, the blood stays within the spleen and the spleen enlarges. The blood count reduces and the patient becomes severely deficient of blood cells. The spleen also enlarges and becomes painful. In most cases of splenic sequestration, the patient’s spleen can be felt.  This condition is also called splenic crisis.

Splenic crisis is seen in patients who have sickle cell disease, right from the age of four months. Splenic sequestration can also occur in patients with thalassemia.

What are the symptoms of splenic sequestration?

The most commonly observed symptoms are:

• ·         Painful and tender spleen
• ·         Enlarged spleen
• ·         Fatigue and weakness
• ·         Irritability
• ·         Paleness due to anaemia
• ·         Reduced immunity
• ·         Not as active as usual

What is the treatment for splenic sequestration?

In splenic sequestration, the child reaches dangerously low levels of haemoglobin and red blood cell count. The spleen enlarges and is painful on palpation. The immediate treatment for splenic sequestration is blood transfusion so that the child is temporarily out of risk. If the enlargement is too much and too frequent, it is advisable to surgically remove the spleen.

Also Read: Can a sickle cell crisis occur in patient with sickle cell trait?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.

When to undergo treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia?

BloodCancerCure

What is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia?

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a type of blood cancer, specifically a type of leukaemia. This form of cancer is closely associated with white blood cells. A specific type of white blood cells, called lymphocytes are affected and turn malignant. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is different from the other blood cancers as it is slow-progressing compared to other forms of leukaemia. it commonly affects older individuals.

What are the symptoms that can be seen in a person with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia does not show any symptoms in the initial stages of the disease. As cancer progresses, varying symptoms begin to manifest.

• ·         Rapid weight loss
• ·         Fever with night sweats
• ·         Tiredness and fatigue
• ·         Enlarged lymph nodes which do not cause much pain
• ·         Frequent infections
• ·         Enlarged spleen which may be tender.

Only when one or more symptoms are persistently present, there is a serious need for treatment. This is usually in an intermediate to an advanced stage of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

If you experience one or more of these symptoms for a long time, consult your doctor for a diagnosis.

What are the treatment options for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?

Treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is dependent on the stage of leukaemia. if the patient is diagnosed at an early stage and there are no serious symptoms that are seen, there is no need for any medical treatment as such. Instead, the patient requires a continuous and keen observation by the doctor. The levels of blood cells are to be continuously checked. This period is called the period of watchful waiting. It has been observed that early treatment does not provide any cure for the patient as such, nor does it help in making the cancerous condition better. The side effects from the treatment have more of a harmful effect that the benefits offered by the treatment itself. Therefore, until the symptoms are persistent and the stage of cancer is intermediate to advanced, there is no need for any medical treatment.

Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in intermediate and advanced stages:

In the advanced stages, the patient will exhibit the symptoms of the condition and this is when treatment can be started. There are many treatment modalities when it comes to treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. They may be used as a combination or individually. 

The most commonly preferred treatment options are:

· 

  Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy refers to the usage of drugs to destroy the cancerous cells. they work by acting on the cell cycle of the rapidly multiplying cells. These drugs target not only the cancerous cells but also the healthy cells which are rapidly dividing. The chemotherapeutic agents may be delivered as a pill, tablet or even intravenously. These drugs have their own set of side effects which have to be carefully analysed and managed.

·         

   Immunotherapy: Our body is naturally equipped with immune cells which are capable of destroying other foreign substances and harmful cells. immunotherapy makes it easier for these cells to detect and destroy cancerous cells.

· 

   Targeted drug Therapy: This is a type of treatment which is very similar to chemotherapy. The only difference is that they target the cancer cells specifically and the damage to other cells is lesser.

·  

   Stem cell Transplantation: this is a recent development for the treatment of blood cancer. In this technique, the patient’s stem cells are collected and stored. High doses of chemotherapeutic agents are administered to destroy the cancerous cells. The stored stem cells are transplanted back into the patient which now produce healthy and vital blood cells. Although this technique sounds perfect in theory, it is not compatible with all patients and all cases. One must consider all the side effects and complications of this procedure before opting for it.

Treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia depends entirely on the stage of cancer and the seriousness of the symptoms experienced by the patient. Not all patients require treatment, but close observation is essential.

Also Read: Is Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia treatable?

About BloodCancerCure:

BloodCancerCure is world’s first such organization working 24*7 on helping blood cancer patients. BloodCancerCure works for patients across world by providing the lowest cost for bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and Bone marrow test. You can contact at +91-8448533753 to talk to our experts at BloodCancerCure for BMT treatment in India.