Leukaemia and myelodysplasia patient information

 

  • Acute leukaemia

    Patients with acute leukaemia usually present with marrow failure (anaemia, infections, bleeding) and tissue infiltration from the tumour cells (mediastinal mass, hepatosplenomegaly, gum or skin infiltration).

  • Chronic leukaemia

    Chronic leukaemia may often be detected by chance from a blood test taken for other reasons. Some patients will have enlarged organs (such as the liver or spleen), enlarged lymph glands, recurrent infections or raised uric acid levels.

    We offer a specialist clinic for patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia run by Professor Stephen Devereux from King's College Hospital, who is an international expert in this field.

  • Myelodysplasia

    Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is diagnosed on blood and marrow examination, including cytogenetic evaluation. It is a pre-leukaemic disease that exists in both indolent (slow developing) and aggressive (quick developing) forms.  

    Patients usually present with one or more of the following:

    • anaemia
    • macrocytosis
    • neutropenia
    • thrombocytopenia
    • thrombocytosis
    • recurrent infections
    • iron overload 

  • Clinics 

     

    Clinic

    		 Date Location
    Leukaemia (for confirmed or suspected malignancy) Monday afternoons Haematology 1
    Chronic myeloid leukaemia (for confirmed or suspected malignancy) Alternate Monday afternoons Haematology 1
    General haematology (for isolated cytopenias, unexplained macrocytosis, low level lymphocytosis (<6x109/l) in the young (< 30 years) ) Monday and Tuesday mornings Haematology 2

    Many patients, especially those with acute leukaemia, will be admitted directly to the ward from home, the day unit or another hospital.  They will be referred to clinic when they have been discharged from the ward.

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