Early diagnosis vital for leukemia treatment, says Turkish doctor

By Mehmet Kadir Kilinc

ISTANBUL (AA) — Early diagnosis is key for treating leukemia, a kind of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow, a Turkish doctor told Anadolu on Tuesday.

"Early diagnosis and treatment play a critical role in the treatment of leukemia. The priority, as in any disease, is to make an early diagnosis and start appropriate treatment as soon as possible," said Dr. Cafer Adiguzel, a hematologist at a private hospital in Istanbul.

In treating leukemia, the symptoms of which include fatigue, high fever, bruises, and bleeding, Adiguzel said the first month is "critical," as this is when cancerous cells in the patient are eliminated via medication or targeted methods.

If the patient does not respond to this, they may be started on chemotherapy, followed by a bone marrow transplant if that does not work either.

He emphasized that bone marrow transplants are one of the definitive treatment methods for, “one of the most important diseases of this age,” leukemia.

"In transplants, if available, tissue groups that are a perfect match, such as from siblings or other relatives, are preferred. However, in cases where there are no such tissue groups from relatives are suitable, unrelated volunteer donors from bone marrow banks or partially matched relatives are preferred," he said.

Adiguzel said regular exercise and avoiding harmful substances such as smoking and alcohol may also reduce the risk of cancer.

According to UN estimates, over 470,000 people were diagnosed with leukemia in 2020, while more than 310,000 patients of the disease died.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul