Informational Videos
A collection of videos to help you understand various haematological conditions.
Introductory
Introductory video: My background, qualifications and my personal objective in providing quality haematology services
What is Anemia?
It is simply a low haemoglobin in the body causing low oxygenation and consequently symptoms of fatigue, lethargy and sometimes dizziness, chest pain or shortness of breath. There are many causes of anemia from vitamin and iron deficiencies to blood loss to serious diseases like cancers as well as association with other chronic diseases. Diagnosis often involves blood tests, endoscopy, CT scans and bone marrow examination depending on the cause and treatment is varied depending on the cause as well.
What is Lymphoma?
Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes, a type of white cells present in the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. Lymphomas can be aggressive requiring immediate treatment or indolent requiring treatment when they cause specific problems. Patients may present with weight loss, lumps and bumps, drenching night sweats, recurrent infections and abnormal blood counts. Diagnosis involves blood tests, CT scans , lymph node and/ or bone marrow biopsy. Treatment is with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and a proportion of them are curable.
What is Leaukemia?
Leaukemias are cancers of myeloid cells in the blood and bone marrow and is usually diagnosed from an abnormality in the blood counts. Leukaemias may be acute aggressive ones or chronic indolent ones developing over a long period of time. Symptoms may be of tiredness, weight loss, recurrent infections, bleeding, bruising, lumps and bumps on the body. Diagnosis is made from bone marrow biopsy often involving CT scans as well and treatment can vary from outpatient based tablet treatment to inpatient based intensive chemotherapy regimens and bone marrow transplantation depending on the type of leaukaemia.
What is Mgus?
Mgus is a precancerous condition of the bone marrow often detected incidentally and is asymptomatic with no treatment or cure. High risk MGUS can progress to cancerous conditions such as myelomas and lymphomas and therefore it’s important to monitor them. It is characterised by presence of abnormal proteins in the bloods and often these tests are done in the context of abnormal kidney functions, bone aches and pains or anemia.
What is Myeloma?
Myeloma is a cancer of a type of white cells called plasma cells of the bone marrow and clinically presents with an abnormal protein called paraprotein in the blood. Myeloma is an incurable but controllable cancer and people may present with anemia, kidney dysfunction, bone pain, pathological fractures, recurrent infections, high calcium, weight loss, lumps and bumps and so on. Diagnosis involves bone marrow biopsy and CT/MRI. Treatment is with various different lines of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, bone marrow transplantation in selected individuals.
