Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, in which abnormal blood cells are produced. It ranges from fast-moving acute leukemias that need urgent treatment to slower chronic leukemias managed over years — and outcomes have improved dramatically with modern targeted and cellular therapies.

At Indian OncoCare, leukemia treatment is planned and supervised personally by Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), a hemato-oncologist and Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad.

When to see a leukemia specialist

Symptoms depend on the type, and acute leukemias develop quickly. See a specialist for:

Persistent tiredness, paleness or breathlessness (anaemia)
Frequent or severe infections
Easy bruising or bleeding, or tiny red skin spots
Fevers, night sweats, bone pain or swollen glands

An abnormal blood count showing unusual white cells should always be evaluated promptly by a specialist.

How leukemia is diagnosed

Diagnosis begins with a blood count and a blood film, followed by a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. The samples undergo flow cytometry and cytogenetic and molecular testing (for example BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia, or FLT3 and other markers in acute leukemia). These results define the exact type of leukemia and directly determine treatment — which is why they are done before therapy wherever the situation allows.

Treatment options

Leukemia treatment is highly type-specific:

Chemotherapy — central to treating acute leukemias.
Targeted therapy — tyrosine kinase inhibitors have transformed chronic myeloid leukemia into a largely controllable condition, and targeted drugs are used across other types.
Immunotherapy — antibody therapies and CAR-T cell therapy for selected cases.
Stem cell (bone marrow) transplant — an important, potentially curative option in higher-risk disease.

Some chronic leukemias are monitored rather than treated straight away, depending on the type and how active the disease is.

Why choose Indian OncoCare

Leukemia is a hemato-oncology condition, and Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh) is trained specifically in blood cancers. Treatment and transplant care are delivered through Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad. See related pages for bone marrow transplant, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and our cancer services.

Support for patients and families

A cancer diagnosis affects the whole family, and practical support matters as much as medical treatment. Our patient support resources help you prepare for consultations and understand each step, while our financial guidance can help you understand treatment costs and the insurance or assistance options that may be available.

You can find more guidance and checklists in our patient resources section. Patients travelling from outside Hyderabad or from abroad usually begin with an online consultation before continuing in person — see our international patients page for how this is coordinated.

Frequently asked questions

Is leukemia always an emergency?

Acute leukemias need prompt treatment, while chronic leukemias are often managed steadily over time. The type, confirmed on bone marrow testing, decides the urgency.

Can leukemia be cured?

Several leukemias can be cured, and others are well controlled for many years. Chronic myeloid leukemia, for instance, is usually controlled long-term with targeted tablets.

Will I need a transplant?

Some higher-risk leukemias benefit from a stem cell transplant, which can be curative. Whether it is needed depends on the type and risk features.

Who supervises my treatment?

Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), a hemato-oncologist, plans and reviews your treatment personally.