95% of patients with blood cancer "Expecting the development of new treatments"Half found without symptoms
Sep 23, 2024
Most blood cancer patients expressed expectations that long-term survival would be possible with proper management and that new treatments would be developed.
The Korea Blood Cancer Association (Chairman Jang Tae-pyeong) announced the results of a survey on 144 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML DAY) on September 22nd.
Chronic myeloid leukemia is a blood cancer that occurs when myelocyte cells make white blood cells, and more than 90% of patients have excessive blood cells due to genetic abnormalities (the appearance of Philadelphia chromosomes), resulting in increased white blood cells and platelets. In general, it shows a chronic course, but if not treated, it can go into the acute phase and worsen into acute leukemia.
Due to the nature of blood cancer, 52.6% of respondents were diagnosed through regular checkups without any symptoms, but 18% said they had symptoms of spleen enlargement.
83.1% of respondents are currently receiving 'targeted anticancer drug treatment', and 91.4% of them say they are satisfied with targeted anticancer drug treatment. Patients who were not satisfied with the treatment were experiencing side effects that interfered with their daily lives (74.8%), joint pain, numbness of hands and feet, swelling (musculoskeletal side effects), general fatigue, skin rashes and itching, and anemia.
68.3% of patients who experienced side effects resolved them through consultation with medical staff, but some said they considered it an inevitable phenomenon during the treatment process and were enduring uncomfortable symptoms. In particular, some responded that they could not discuss the inconvenience due to limited outpatient time (5%).
84.7% of respondents answered that they were provided with sufficient information about the disease by medical staff during the treatment process.
However, as it is a chronic disease that must be treated for life, patients emphasized the need for emotional comfort and empathy and encouragement for the difficulties they experience in the treatment process.
Patients expressed expectations that long-term survival (96.5%) would be possible with proper management and that new treatments would be developed (95.1%), but they also expressed concern that resistance or mutant gene occurrence (56.9%) and fear that there would be no other treatment in case of recurrence (61.8%).
Park Jung-sook, director of the Korean Blood Cancer Association, said "Chronic bone marrow leukemia has improved significantly since the advent of targeted anticancer drugs, allowing us to dream of long-term survival as well as treatment free mission (TFR). However, emotional support and encouragement are needed as drug side effects, resistance, and fear of relapse still exist that affect patients' quality of life."
The association emphasized that it will continue its activities to improve blood cancer awareness and strive to quickly introduce new drugs and apply benefits to improve the disease-fighting environment for patients.
Meanwhile, the survey was conducted online through the association's website for about two weeks from August to September 2024. The results of the survey can be found on the association's website notice and SNS (kbdca).
The Korea Blood Cancer Association (Chairman Jang Tae-pyeong) announced the results of a survey on 144 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML DAY) on September 22nd.
Chronic myeloid leukemia is a blood cancer that occurs when myelocyte cells make white blood cells, and more than 90% of patients have excessive blood cells due to genetic abnormalities (the appearance of Philadelphia chromosomes), resulting in increased white blood cells and platelets. In general, it shows a chronic course, but if not treated, it can go into the acute phase and worsen into acute leukemia.
Due to the nature of blood cancer, 52.6% of respondents were diagnosed through regular checkups without any symptoms, but 18% said they had symptoms of spleen enlargement.
83.1% of respondents are currently receiving 'targeted anticancer drug treatment', and 91.4% of them say they are satisfied with targeted anticancer drug treatment. Patients who were not satisfied with the treatment were experiencing side effects that interfered with their daily lives (74.8%), joint pain, numbness of hands and feet, swelling (musculoskeletal side effects), general fatigue, skin rashes and itching, and anemia.
68.3% of patients who experienced side effects resolved them through consultation with medical staff, but some said they considered it an inevitable phenomenon during the treatment process and were enduring uncomfortable symptoms. In particular, some responded that they could not discuss the inconvenience due to limited outpatient time (5%).
84.7% of respondents answered that they were provided with sufficient information about the disease by medical staff during the treatment process.
However, as it is a chronic disease that must be treated for life, patients emphasized the need for emotional comfort and empathy and encouragement for the difficulties they experience in the treatment process.
Patients expressed expectations that long-term survival (96.5%) would be possible with proper management and that new treatments would be developed (95.1%), but they also expressed concern that resistance or mutant gene occurrence (56.9%) and fear that there would be no other treatment in case of recurrence (61.8%).
Park Jung-sook, director of the Korean Blood Cancer Association, said "Chronic bone marrow leukemia has improved significantly since the advent of targeted anticancer drugs, allowing us to dream of long-term survival as well as treatment free mission (TFR). However, emotional support and encouragement are needed as drug side effects, resistance, and fear of relapse still exist that affect patients' quality of life."
The association emphasized that it will continue its activities to improve blood cancer awareness and strive to quickly introduce new drugs and apply benefits to improve the disease-fighting environment for patients.
Meanwhile, the survey was conducted online through the association's website for about two weeks from August to September 2024. The results of the survey can be found on the association's website notice and SNS (kbdca).
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