What is Leukemia?
Leukemia is a group of cancers originating from white blood cells. These cells form in the spongy interior of bones, known as bone marrow. Other blood cancers arising from bone marrow defects include myeloproliferative neoplasms and systemic mastocytosis.

 Current Status of Leukemia in Indonesia?

Leukemia is the most common malignant tumor among children and adolescents in Indonesia, with approximately 6,800 new cases reported in 2022, accounting for 35% of all childhood cancers. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has the highest proportion (75%), followed by acute myeloid leukemia (AML, 20%) and chronic leukemia (5%). Due to delayed diagnosis and insufficient medical resources, the overall 5-year survival rate is only 40-50%, significantly lower than the 80-90% in developed countries.

 Regarding risk factors, Indonesian leukemia patients are primarily affected by three major factors: First, environmental exposure, particularly benzene-related pollution in industrial areas like Jakarta, shows a significant positive correlation with AML incidence. Second, viral infections, such as the HTLV-1 virus prevalent in certain regions, are closely associated with adult T-cell leukemia. Additionally, genetic factors cannot be ignored, as children with Down syndrome face a 20-fold higher risk of developing ALL compared to the general pediatric population.

 What Causes Leukemia?

Most white blood cells survive only hours or days. When they die, they are continuously replaced by new cells. Leukemia occurs when the genetic material (DNA) in white blood cells is damaged or altered. These cells fail to mature or become fully functional. As these immature cells proliferate, they overwhelm the bone marrow, disrupting or slowing the production of normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

 The exact cause of leukemia remains incompletely understood. Current research suggests potential links to biological factors, physical factors, chemical factors, genetic factors, and other blood disorders.

 What Are the Types of Leukemia?

Doctors classify leukemia types in several ways. One method is based on the type of white blood cell involved: lymphocytes or myeloid cells. Another method determines whether the disease progresses rapidly (acute) or slowly over time (chronic). Other blood cancers may involve the overproduction of different types of blood cells.

 What Are the Symptoms of Leukemia?

Symptoms vary depending on the type of leukemia:
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
Myeloproliferative neoplasms
Systemic mastocytosis

What Are the Treatment Methods for Leukemia?
Our doctors most commonly recommend one or more of the following approaches to treat leukemia:
Targeted therapy
Chemotherapy
CAR T-cell therapy or other types of immunotherapy
Bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation