But can you really name any of the symptoms associated with the deadly disease? 1 The survival rate for leukemia is just over 50 percent, making it one of the deadliest cancersCredit: Getty – Contributor According to the results of a recent survey, less than 1 per cent of Britons are able to recognize all four common symptoms of cancer. Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects people of all ages, with 10,000 people diagnosed in the UK each year. The overall survival rate for the disease is just over 50 percent, making it one of the deadliest forms of cancer. However, research carried out by two cancer charities found that more than two-fifths (42 per cent) of people cannot recognize any of the four most widely reported symptoms of the disease. It also revealed that 43 per cent of people mistakenly believe that leukemia is more common in people under the age of 24.
Common signs and symptoms of leukemia include:
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects bone marrow cells and attacks the immune system. The most common symptoms are:
fatigue bruises unusual bleeding recurrent infection
Other symptoms of leukemia include:
fever or night sweats bone or joint pain swollen lymph nodes
Fiona Hazell, chief executive of Leukemia UK – one of the charities that published the research – believes this mistaken belief can cost lives. “In fact, both incidence and mortality rates rise sharply after age 55,” he explained. “Awareness in this age group is critical to its early and effective treatment and ultimately to improving survival rates overall,” he said. As with all cancers, an early diagnosis of leukemia means that treatment is more likely to be successful. In response to the research results, Leukemia UK and Leukemia Care have jointly launched a new campaign — called #SpotLeukaemia — to make people more aware of the symptoms. Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, chief executive of Leukemia Care also said the research results were “extremely worrying”. “It’s important if you think you have fatigue, bruising or bleeding or recurring infections that you contact your doctor and ask for a blood test. It’s as simple as that,” she said.
What are the different types of leukemia?
There are four main types of leukemia. They are: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) – A rapidly progressing form of the disease. More common in children. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – Rapidly progressive. More common in adults. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) – A form that develops slowly and is more common in adults. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) – Progresses slowly and is more common in adults.
Can leukemia be treated?
Currently, there are five ways to treat leukemia. They are: Chemotherapy – These are drugs that kill cells that kill and/or stop them from dividing. Chemotherapy is often given in blocks or cycles of treatment. A treatment cycle will consist of a series of chemotherapy doses followed by a break to allow healthy cells to recover. Radiation therapy – This treatment uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. It is not used to treat all types of leukemia. Targeted therapy – Drugs that recognize and kill specific leukemia cells. Biologic therapy – A treatment that uses the immune system to destroy leukemia cells. Stem cell transplant – Younger patients may be given a stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant). This can be done using your own healthy stem cells or stem cells from a donor. This is most often done for acute leukemia if chemotherapy does not cure the disease.
