Daijiworld Media Network – Pune
Pune, Jun 29: What begins as mere tiredness, a lingering fever, or unexplained bruises could be a sign of something far more serious. June is observed globally as Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) Awareness Month, aimed at shedding light on this aggressive but often overlooked form of blood cancer.
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia may not always begin with dramatic symptoms. Fatigue, frequent infections, pale skin, or fever—these are some of the early, everyday signs that many dismiss, sometimes until it's too late.
“AML symptoms mimic common illnesses like viral fevers or infections, which leads to delayed diagnosis,” says Dr Sameer Melinkeri, Hemato-oncologist and Director of Bone Marrow Transplant at Sahyadri Hospital, Pune. “Persistent fatigue, bruising, or frequent infections should not be ignored.”
AML affects the bone marrow, producing abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy ones, crippling the body’s immune system. Key symptoms include unexplained fever, night sweats, severe infections, anaemia, and bone pain.
Diagnosis typically involves a complete blood count and a bone marrow biopsy, along with genetic testing. But in India, where fevers are often attributed to dengue or typhoid, AML frequently slips under the radar in early stages.
As per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, blood cancers account for 8-10% of all cancer cases in India, with AML being a significant contributor among adults.
While treatment is possible, it is not without hurdles. “AML is often treated with intensive chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant, but many patients—especially the elderly—struggle to complete the treatment due to financial constraints,” Dr Melinkeri notes. “New targeted therapies like Ivosidenib, Azacitidine, and Venetoclax are promising, as they attack specific mutations with less harm to healthy cells.”
Awareness remains a crucial barrier. “In our country, people don’t ignore symptoms because they don’t care—they simply don’t know what to look for,” he adds.
This AML Awareness Month, doctors urge the public to be alert and proactive. Even something as simple as unexplained fatigue should not be taken lightly.
Because when AML strikes, it doesn’t wait—and neither should we.