LEUKAEMIA IS CURABLE

Q My eight- year- old son was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia 18 months back. Now half of his treatment has been completed and he is recovering. Will my child be able to lead a normal life?

I have a daughter who is two- andahalf years old and I am expecting another baby next month. Are my other children at risk of leukaemia too? — Anonymous

All children with standard risk have a cure rate of 80 to 90 per cent with standard chemotherapy protocol and majority of them live a normal life.

Patients may get delayed complications if they have received prophylactic cranial irradiation ( radiation to the brain) as part of some old protocols.

These children should be followed up for delayed complications like growth retardation, cataract and behavioural changes.

Siblings of such patients are not at high risk at all for getting the disease, so you need not worry about your other children. — Dr Anil K. Aribandi, consultant haemato oncologist

Q My husband is 37 years old and his recent lipid profile showed serum cholesterol level as 200 mg/ dl, serum triglycerides as 450 md/ dl, HDL cholesterol as 33 mg/ dl, VLDL as 90 mg/ dl and LDL cholesterol as 77 mg/ dl. His total lipids came as 850 mg/ dl. He is taking Olvnc ( 20 mg) and Storfib once a day. Is he on the right treatment? — Shaeen Akhtar

The major problem is your husband’s raised triglyceride levels. This has to be addressed by the use of finofibrate, which is there in Storfib.

His current treatment is alright, but he needs to cut down fat intake substantially by avoiding high fat diet, especially fast food.