India Seeing Spike in Pre-Leukaemia Condition as Population Ages

BENGALURU / May 26, 2025: The increasing number of elderly people in India is leading to a slow but steady rise in cases of a pre-leukaemia condition called Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a type of blood cancer where the bone marrow produces abnormal blood cells that don’t mature properly. Patients of MDS show symptoms such as anaemia, frequent infections and fevers, and easy bruising and bleeding. Worse, 20-30% of people with MDS go on to develop a fast-growing form of leukaemia called acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) that involves rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells. This was said by Dr. Radheshyam Naik, Consultant, Medical Oncologist and Hematologist, Sammprada Multi-speciality Hospital, Bengaluru, ahead of the World Blood Cancer Day.

Said Dr. Radheshyam Naik, who is counted among one of Bengaluru’s foremost cancer specialists: “MDS is a group of blood disorders that are caused by changes in the DNA in blood cells. This disease is mainly found in older adults, with the average age of diagnosis around 70 years. As India’s population ages, we are seeing a substantial rise in MDS cases in the country. Rising incidence of smoking is also contributing to this trend.”

He added: “Cancer survivors who underwent therapy, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or hormone therapy, are now living longer, but they are also at higher risk of developing MDS and AML as second malignancy. There is no cure, but treatment can help slow the progression of these diseases and manage symptoms. Another noticeable trend is the rise in cases of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that involves uncontrollable growth of immune cells called lymphocytes. The increase in incidence of NHL is being seen across all age groups in India. The reason is unknown.”

Dr. Radheshyam Naik said that several new and promising cancer therapies have emerged in last few years that are making strides in the fight against the disease, with good outcomes in curing patients or prolonging life. “The first is immunotherapy, including checkpoint inhibiters and CAR T-cell therapy. This uses the body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells. The second is targeted therapies such as hormone therapies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). These target specific genes or proteins which are responsible for the growth of cancer cells. Newer forms of radiation therapy such as using beams of protons (proton therapy) or heat to target cancer cells (hyperthermia) are also showing great promise. Bone marrow transplant is already saving many lives,” he added.

Blood cancer is a significant public health challenge in India, with the country ranking third globally in reported cases. About 70,000 to 80,000 deaths occur every year in the country due to blood cancer. Common types of blood cancer in India include leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. A complete blood count test is used to detect blood cancer early, significantly improving outcomes if there is no delay in treatment.