Leukaemia treatment in Germany - German hospitals give hope!
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Leukemia is a deadly malignant cancer of the hematopoietic (blood) system. The illness can be acute or chronic, due to its clinical course. It differentiates between several histological types of illness.
Lymphoblastic leukaemia (mostly affects children) and myeloblastic leukaemia (usually observed in elderly people) are the most often encountered types.
Content
- Principles of leukemia treatment
- Features of leukemia chemotherapy
- Bone marrow transplantation
- Benefits of leukemia treatment in Germany
- Which hospitals can treat leukemia?
- How to get treatment in Germany
Principles of leukemia treatment
The basis for the treatment of most malignant cancer types is surgical intervention. But, when leukemia is present in a patient's body, there can be no focus on the location of the tumor cells that could be removed, stopping the growth of the tumor. Therefore, the basis of treatment in these cases, is chemotherapy.
There are two separate stages in the treatment of acute leukemia:
- Induction. The goal of therapy is to achieve the complete clinical and hematological remission of the disease. This stage is indicated if a bone marrow sample consists of less than 5% blast cells (with the exacerbation of leukemia, this number reaches 20-30%). At the induction stage, intensive chemotherapy is used.
- Consolidation stage. This stage requires long term treatment. Its goal is to maintain a complete clinical and hematological remission. Chemotherapy is used at this stage. In many cases, stem cell transplantation is also used (bone marrow transplantation).
Features of leukemia chemotherapy
We can name a lot of drugs that are used for leukemia chemotherapy. They are applied in different doses and combinations, though the therapy scheme and treatment duration are maintained.
An individual approach is required to prescribe effective chemotherapy. The criteria for the choice of one scheme or another, are prognostic factors, which can be either favorable or unfavorable.
Let’s have a look at the necessary criteria for a chemo choice for child patients who suffer from lymphoblastic leukaemia. Favorable prognostic factors for them are:
- an age between 1 and 9 years old;
- a tumor growth of B-cells;
- the content of leukocytes in one millimeter of cubic peripheral blood not exceeding 50 thousand;
- European or Asian race;
- female:
- leukemia that has not spread to the spleen, liver, genitalia, and the central nervous system;
- more than 50 chromosomes observed in the leukemia cells;
- genetic analysis shows translocations in 12 and 21 chromosomes;
- after 1-2 weeks of treatment, there is a significant decrease in the number of leukemia cells (good response to chemotherapy).
Unfavorable prognostic factors include:
- age of less than 1 year old or more than 10 years old;
- tumor grows out of T-cells (T-lymphoblastic leukemia);
- the content of leukocytes in one millimeter of cubic peripheral blood exceeds 50 thousand;
- African race;
- male;
- leukemia that has spread to the spleen, liver, genital organs, or the central nervous system;
- less than 46 chromosomes observed in the leukemia cells;
- genetic analysis shows translocations (transfer of fragments of the genetic code) in chromosones 1 and 19, 9 and 22, and 4 and 11;
- after 2 weeks of treatment there is no significant reduction in the number of leukemia cells (poor response to chemotherapy).
Based on the factors listed above, the patient's treatment scheme is planned for both induction and consolidation. This requires not only the compliance of the doctor with the protocols for the provision of medical care to patients with leukemia, but also the availability of high-tech diagnostic procedures, their high accuracy, and the possibility of timely implementation.
The treatment of leukemia also includes maintenance therapy. A patient’s hematopoietic system suffers from the illness. Therefore, it often needs a transfusion of erythrocyte and platelet masses and the timely treatment of infections, due to its weak immunity. Procedures are applied to reduce the number of leukocytes in the blood (leukapheresis).
Bone marrow transplantation
One of the therapeutic measures that is carried out during the consolidation phase is stem cell transplantation. This is an expensive, unsafe, but highly effective method of treatment, and it is widely used in the developed world to treat leukemia.
Transplantation options are:
- allogeneic - donor cells are used;
- autologous - own stem cells are used.
Autologous transplantation is considered to be safer, because there is no risk of a "graft versus host" reaction.
But, allogeneic transplantation is more effective. It is possible to achieve a complete cure of the disease in many cases with the help of an allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Benefits of leukemia treatment in Germany
World statistics suggest that when leukemia is at the induction stage, it is possible to achieve a complete clinical-hematologic remission in about 85% of patients. Half of them will have recurrence, despite subsequent consolidation therapy. The second half (about 40% of the total number of patients) will be completely cured of leukemia.
Treatment success depends on:
- presence of favorable or unfavorable prognostic factors;
- proper, adequate chemotherapy;
- use of stem cell transplantation and the peculiarities of this procedure.
In many ways, the prognosis depends not only on the nature and course of the disease, but also on the quality of the treatment.
It is better to be treated in Germany, because here:
- Doctors strictly follow the protocols of healthcare for patients with leukemia, so a therapeutic scheme is always chosen in the most effective way.
- The latest medications are used, which are not yet available in other countries.
- Qualitative and high-precision diagnostic methods are used, which enables a more accurate identification of the favorable and unfavorable factors. This identification is necessary for the correct selection of qualitative therapy.
- Innovative methods of leukemia treatment are available, those which are only available in developed countries.
- The possibility of using therapeutic techniques which are at the stage of clinical trials and have not yet been introduced into clinical practice.
In Germany, patients have the option to undergo the high-tech treatment of stem cell transplantation. This procedure is not safe. Nonetheless, it is held in high regard in developed countries, thanks to the highly knowledgeable doctors who use the latest medical equipment. Generally, the risks are much lower in these countries.
The world's second largest stem cell donor base is in Germany. 5 million people have been registered there. Therefore, even if a patient does not have relatives suitable for transplantation, a donor can be selected from this database. The good compatibility of the material used for the bone marrow transplantation is the key to a successful procedure.
Which hospitals can treat leukemia?
Germany has many reputable clinics, where patients from all over the world can undergo treatment for leukemia. Here are some of them:
- Oberberg Waldbrölle Hospital is a healthcare facility certified as a Cancer Center. The hospital is equipped with the latest devices. Patients with leukemia get treated in the Department of Oncology and Hematology here. Specialists will choose the individual scheme of chemotherapy for patients with leukemia at both the induction and consolidation stages. They use highly-accurate diagnostic methods and their great clinical experience.
- St. Anthony's Hospital offers patients the opportunity to undergo diagnostics and receive effective treatment of leukemia. This takes place in the department of oncology and hematology. This is a multidisciplinary clinic. Physicians of different specialties work here, and if necessary, the patient will receive consultations not only from the oncologist-hematologist, but also from other doctors.
- Hannover Medical School (MHH). The doctors of this hospital focus on providing high-tech innovative treatment methods. It is possible to have not only chemotherapy, but also maintenance therapy, and allogeneic (from a donor) stem cell transplantations here.
How to get treatment in Germany
The arrangement of treatment in Germany presents great difficulties for people who have not yet been to this country and for those who have never been treated abroad. In such cases, it is better to use our booking services.
The Booking Health company will assist you in your:
- Selection of a clinic. We will choose a hospital for you, where doctors focus on leukemia treatment.
- Cost planning. Due to the optimization of therapeutic and diagnostic programmes, you can sometimes save up to 70% of the cost of healthcare services.
- Arrangement of treatment issues. We will agree on all the details with the management of the hospital, provide an interpreter, and if necessary, we will agree on urgent treatment.
By using the Booking Health service, you will get insurance that covers any unforeseen medical expenses while you’re having treatment in Germany, and also for 4 years after its completion.
Choose treatment abroad and you will for sure get the best results!
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
National Center for Biotechnology
European Society for Medical Oncology
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