Q1. What is the difference between acute leukaemia and chronic leukaemia?
Acute leukaemia and chronic leukaemia are both caused by the malignancy of white blood cells in the bone marrow. Acute leukaemia generally affects immature white blood cells. It poses a higher risk to patients due to its rapid progression and higher malignancy. Chronic leukaemia mainly affects mature white blood cells. Due to slower progression, it causes no immediate danger to patients. However, it can transform into acute leukaemia and result in rapid deterioration.
Q2. What are the treatment options for chronic leukaemia?
Chronic luekaemia is mostly treated with targeted therapy including monoclonal antibody and oral targeted medications. With chemotherapy drugs commonly used in the past, targeted therapy has recently become the mainstay of treatment for its good clinical outcomes.
Q3. What are the treatment options for acute leukaemia?
As acute leukaemia develops rapidly, patients must seek treatment as soon as possible. It is mostly treated with chemotherapy, maybe in combination with targeted therapy in some cases for better outcomes. Given the severity, most patients may experience a decrease in white blood cells and platelets to a very low level after chemotherapy. A longer hospital stay is thus required to control infection and prevent bleeding.
Q4. What should patients pay attention to in daily life?
Patients should pay attention to the fact that both acute and chronic leukaemia can make them more susceptible to bacterial infection and uncontrolled bleeding, which conditions may worsen after treatment. In terms of infection, prevention of pneumonia and gastrointestinal infections is of utmost importance so it is better to avoid crowded areas. Take the same preventive measures against COVID-19 with extra care, such as wearing a mask, washing hands frequently and avoiding crowds. To prevent gastrointestinal infections, better consume clean foods and avoid raw or uncooked foods such as salad and sashimi.
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