At 48 years old, Asma al Assad suffers from acute myeloid leukemia. File image voting with her husband, Bashar al-Assad. HEALTHY | REUTERS
Anemia, bone and joint pain, skin spots or abdominal swelling are some of them.
May 21, 2024 . Updated at 4:26 p.m.
Asma al Assad, first lady of Syria, suffers leukemia. The Presidency of the country, in a statement published on the social network This is not the first cancer she has suffered, since in August 2019 she announced that she had overcome a breast cancer that was diagnosed a year earlier. This time, she “will adhere to a specialized treatment protocol that includes strong infection prevention measures and appropriate social distancing,” so she will “temporarily withdraw from all direct meetings.”
What is acute myeloid leukemia?
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal blood cells. It is the most common type in adults.
As pointed out by the Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia Association (AEAL), the term acute indicates that the disease progresses rapidly and, if untreated, can be fatal in a few weeks or months. It initially manifests itself in the bone marrow, but in most cases, it spreads rapidly through the blood, and can affect other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, liver, spleen or central nervous system.
What are the possible symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia?
The statement issued by the Syrian Presidency points out that the diagnosis of Asthma came after multiple symptoms and clinical signs. These may vary depending on the patient, but the most common are:
- Symptoms associated with a decrease in blood cell levels, such as anemia (decrease in red blood cells) or neutropenia (decrease in white blood cells). The first can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness, feeling cold, headache or difficulty breathing; while the second can cause more frequent and serious infections, as well as the appearance of fever as an initial symptom.
- Thrombocytopenia (decrease in blood platelets). Can produce skin hemorrhages such as bruises or petechiae, nose or gum bleeding.
- Pain in bones and joints.
- Spots on the skin.
- Swelling in the abdomen.
There are three main types of blood cells:
- Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all other tissues in the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs for elimination.
- Platelets are important in stopping bleeding, as they help plug holes in blood vessels caused by wounds or bruises.
- White blood cells help the body fight infections.
His son was diagnosed with myeloid leukemia: “You don’t know how strong you are until you have no choice”
What could be its causes?
As indicated by the AEAL, the exact cause of acute myeloid leukemia is unknown, although a series of conditions are known. risk factor’s associates. These include smoking, exposure to chemical agents, radiation exposure, previous hematological disorders, genetic syndromes or family history.
Also included in this list of risk factors is the fact of having undergone a previous treatment for cancer. «There are different types of drugs used in chemotherapy that are related, in some study or group of patients, to an increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia. Reducing the doses or number of chemotherapy and radiotherapy agents used in some types of cancer for which there is no other treatment alternative is one way to reduce long-term side effects, but always keep in mind that “The risk associated with secondary leukemia is much lower than the benefit expected from using chemotherapy or radiotherapy for the curative treatment of another type of cancer,” they explain in the guide.
What is the incidence of acute myeloid leukemia?
Acute myeloid leukemia is a relatively rare disease compared to other types of cancer. Each year, between three and four new cases are usually diagnosed per 100,000 inhabitants. The average age is 65 years.
Although the incidence of this disease is higher in men than in women, the reasons are currently not clearly known.
What is your prognosis?
The prognosis of the disease depends on several factors: age, general health, or the subtype of acute myeloid leukemia. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy (a type of treatment that uses drugs to identify and attack specific cancer cells), or other types of drug therapies. Additionally, new ones are being tested through several clinical trials that are underway.
Still, chemotherapy is the main treatment for most types of acute myeloid leukemia, sometimes along with a targeted therapy drug. This may be followed by a stem cell transplant. In some people, the disease never completely goes away.