ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA CASES RISING IN MUMBAI, EXPERTS CALL FOR ACCESS REFORMS

At an awareness discussion hosted by AbbVie India, leading oncologists from the city spoke about the need to examine Mumbai's Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) burden and its impact on healthcare access, survival outcomes, and affordability.

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Though Mumbai houses renowned oncology centers, access to molecular diagnostics and AML-targeted therapies remains limited outside certain hospitals. Many patients delay treatment due to financial constraints or seek care in late stages when treatment is less effective.

Dr. Abhay A. Bhave, MD, FRCPA (Australia), Haematologist, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre in Bandra West, Mumbai said, “Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), while rare among all haematological malignancies, is the most feared one. It has an excellent chemotherapy combination for control of disease, including deep remission (control, not cure), but is fraught with complications, including life-threatening ones due to severe infections and bone marrow suppression.”