The Hematology Society of Taiwan yesterday said acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow, can progress quickly and aggressively and urged the government to expand the eligibility for National Health Insurance (NHI) covered treatment for the disease.
Ahead of AML World Awareness Day, which is held annually on April 21, the medical association yesterday invited producer-turned-entertainer Shen Yu-lin (沈玉琳) to be an AML care ambassador and share his experience of fighting AML along with his doctor Hou Hsin-an (侯信安), a professor at National Taiwan University Hospital’s Division of Hematology, at a news conference in Taipei.
Recalling the experience, Shen said he had completely overlooked the early warning signs despite feeling “extremely tired” — to the point where he sometimes did not even have the strength to walk from his living room to the bathroom to take a shower — about a month before the onset.
Photo: CNA
Shen said at the time, he thought it was only “chronic fatigue” or “autonomic nervous system disorder,” so he rented a meridian therapy device to try to reduce fatigue and sought treatment at a dental clinic for swollen gums.
His wife insisted that he see a psychiatrist, who then determined his condition was likely not caused by mental illness and referred him to an emergency department, he said.
The doctor told him his white blood cell count was elevated and his hemoglobin had dropped, concluding that he most likely had leukemia, Shen said.
“Actually, my blood test result was normal a month before I was hospitalized, so this illness really came fast and fierce,” he said, adding that he fully trusted his medical team. Shen has received rounds of chemotherapy and is taking maintenance medication, with the prospect of hopefully returning to the screen in the near future.
AML often progresses very rapidly, with symptoms appearing suddenly and severely, requiring immediate treatment, Hou said, adding that it is the most common and aggressive type of acute leukemia in adults, accounting for about 32.2 percent of all leukemia cases.
However, early signs of AML are often overlooked as they resemble some common illnesses, with symptoms including persistent fatigue, anemia, recurring fever, unexplained bruising or bleeding, and bone or joint pains, he said, adding that people should seek medical attention if they develop two or more symptoms.
AML is more common in adults aged over 50, and the annual number of newly diagnosed cases has been growing, he said.
Although the five-year survival rate of older patients with AML is relatively low, it has improved with the development of new therapies, he said.
However, Hou said the current regulations on the timing and criteria for using new drugs covered by the NHI are strict and exclude many patients from receiving treatment.
The medical association hopes that the government would consider expanding eligibility, allowing patients to receive the best treatment from the start, or avoid being forced to stop a therapy if they no longer meet the criteria for NHI-coverage, he said.
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