Study says a major blood cancer is 11 distinct diseases

[Northerner]

One of the main types of blood cancer is not one but 11 distinct diseases, detailed genetic analysis suggests.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found genetic differences explain why some patients respond much better to treatment than others.

The researchers say their findings should help with the development of clinical trials.

Cancer Research UK says this type of study offers new insights into cancer.

The study focused on Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) - there are around 3,000 new cases every year in the UK.

The disease is often aggressive, particularly in older patients - overall survival after five years is about 20%.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36479291

Is this what you have @Amigo ?

 

[grovesy]

I saw this on the news and thought I wonder how many more illnesses have more sub types than they think. Many is my guess!

 

[Amigo]

No this isn't the blood cancer I have northerner. I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia which is cancer of the B cell lymphocytes which fight infection. As a result it is essentially a cancer of the immune system. It means these white lymphocytic cells constantly reproduce but are useless and clog the spleen and crowd the bone marrow and can infiltrate any part of the body. Acute leukaemia like AML is more aggressive and requires immediate treatment but can be curable. CLL however has no treatment options until the immune system is near collapse and chemo or other treatments hopefully effect a remission. However, it is never actually cured and all we can hope for is a long remission. It attracts other cancers in its wake due to immune dysregulation.

Blood cancers are incredibly complex and each person suffers it individually dependent on their unique genetic DNA profile and chromosomal deletions.

I couldn't recommend it!

 

[Northerner]

No this isn't the blood cancer I have northerner. I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia which is cancer of the B cell lymphocytes which fight infection. As a result it is essentially a cancer of the immune system. It means these white lymphocytic cells constantly reproduce but are useless and clog the spleen and crowd the bone marrow and can infiltrate any part of the body. Acute leukaemia like AML is more aggressive and requires immediate treatment but can be curable. CLL however has no treatment options until the immune system is near collapse and chemo or other treatments hopefully effect a remission. However, it is never actually cured and all we can hope for is a long remission. It attracts other cancers in its wake due to immune dysregulation.

Blood cancers are incredibly complex and each person suffers it individually dependent on their unique genetic DNA profile and chromosomal deletions.

I couldn't recommend it!

Thanks for the explanation @Amigo - I hope you can manage to keep things in check.