Leukemia, a dangerous disease, is difficult to treat. Comparison of survival statistics after treatment in the CIS countries and Turkey:

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• in the CIS countries with leukemia, the 5-year survival rate is only 40-50%.

In Turkey, the chances of salvation are above 70%;

• in hospitals in the CIS countries, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (more common in children) is treatable only 60% of children.

In Turkish clinics, 95% of patients under 20 live for more than 5 years.

1. STAGES OF LEUKEMIA TREATMENT

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The main goal of therapy is to destroy the maximum number of leukemic cells, as well as to achieve a stable remission in the patient. The success of treatment often depends on age: patients from 1 to 10 years old have the most favorable prognosis.

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• preparatory therapy

Therapy of lymphoblastic or myeloid leukemia in Turkish clinics involves several stages, carried out with great care, therefore, first, oncologists carry out preparatory treatment. This is a weekly course of chemotherapy in order to assess the body's response to treatment and to plan the intensity of therapy.

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• induction

After preparing a safe therapy protocol, a course of intensive chemotherapy is applied for a duration of 5 to 7 weeks. In the process, they try to bring the patient into remission.

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• consolidation therapy

The third stage, in order to prevent neuroleukemia and consolidate the state of remission, is prescribed new drugs for chemotherapy or a course of radiation therapy.

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• re-induction

To prevent the return of the disease, a 5-week course of intensive chemotherapy is repeated after a couple of months. The last remaining leukemia cells are destroyed, thus ending the main course of treatment for lymphoblastic or myeloid leukemia.

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• transplantation

If the course of high-dose chemotherapy has been able to kill almost all of the leukemia cells, and the patient is in remission, a bone marrow transplant can be performed. In the case of the possibility of drug treatment of acute leukemia, doctors try to choose it.

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• supportive therapy

After completing an intensive course of chemotherapy, the patient needs to undergo supportive therapy from weak courses of chemotherapy for another two years. This usually does not interfere with daily activities. If 5 years have passed without relapse since the start of therapy, then the patient is considered healthy. ​

2. DIAGNOSTICS OF LEUKEMIA

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Symptoms of leukemia may include:

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• weakness;

• losing weight;

• fever;

• bone pain;

• causeless hemorrhages4

• lymphadenitis;

• spleno- and hepatomegaly;

• meningeal symptoms;

• frequent infections.

As part of diagnostic studies for leukemia, a general and biochemical blood test, diagnostic puncture of the bone marrow (sternal) and spinal cord (lumbar), trepanobiopsy and biopsy of lymph nodes, radiography, ultrasound, CT and MRI of vital organs are performed. The key in leukemia is the study of bone marrow biopsies (myelogram) and cerebrospinal fluid, including morphological, cytogenetic, cytochemical and immunological analyzes. This makes it possible to clarify the forms and subtypes of leukemia, which is important for choosing a treatment protocol and predicting the disease.

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Leukemic infiltration of internal organs is established by ultrasound of the lymph nodes, abdominal cavity and small pelvis, chest x-ray, skull, bones and joints, chest CT, MRI of the brain and spinal cord with contrast, echocardiography.

With leukemia, consultation with an otolaryngologist, neurologist, urologist, ophthalmologist is indicated.