Doctor: Chronic Leukemia Hard to Detect; Blood Test Report Key to Diagnosis

(Central News Agency reporter Su Muchun, Taichung, 11th) Recently, a celebrity was diagnosed with blood cancer, drawing public attention. Doctors are reminding the public that the biggest challenge with chronic leukemia is its lack of obvious symptoms. Many patients are only diagnosed incidentally during infections, health checkups, or treatment for other diseases, making a blood test report a critical diagnostic tool.

Kuang Tien General Hospital issued a press release today stating that a 60-year-old patient surnamed Chang, a long-term farmer with a regular lifestyle, was recently hospitalized for pneumonia due to recurrent high fever and severe cough. After antibiotic treatment, his lung inflammation improved significantly, but his white blood cell count remained persistently high. Further bone marrow examination confirmed a diagnosis of leukemia.

Dr. Ko Wan-sheng, Director of the Medical Research Department and attending physician in the Hematology-Oncology Department at Kuang Tien Hospital, explained that leukemia can be divided into acute and chronic types. Acute leukemia progresses rapidly, with symptoms such as anemia, recurrent infections, and unexplained bruising or bleeding appearing in a short time. In contrast, chronic leukemia often has no obvious symptoms for a long period, making it easier to overlook.

Dr. Ko pointed out that clinically, over 80% of chronic leukemia patients are not diagnosed due to blood-related issues. Instead, abnormalities are discovered incidentally through routine blood tests during health checkups or hospitalizations for other illnesses like pneumonia or urinary tract infections. Some patients experience only mild fatigue or no discomfort at all, meaning the disease may have been present for some time without their knowledge.

Using Mr. Chang as an example, Dr. Ko noted that the patient was generally healthy and never suspected he had a blood disease. If he had not been hospitalized for pneumonia and received a blood test, his condition would likely have continued to go unnoticed. Dr. Ko emphasized that although chronic leukemia progresses relatively slowly, it still requires regular monitoring and treatment. If not properly managed, the disease course can change.

Dr. Ko reminded the public that the biggest challenge with chronic leukemia is its lack of obvious symptoms. Many patients only discover the abnormality incidentally during infections, health checkups, or treatment for other diseases. Many blood diseases do not occur suddenly but lurk in the body for a long time. A single blood test report can sometimes be the key to changing the direction of diagnosis and treatment.