ii. A Comparative Analysis of the Incidence and of the Results of Treatment of 56 Cases

Abstract

The 56 patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia who have been seen at the Royal Cancer Hospital during the years 1936–51 are reviewed and compared with series of cases from other centres. There appears to be a shift towards a higher age of onset of the disease and a change in the sex ratio towards a higher porportion of females than males. Figures show that the incidence of leukemia is rising steadily, probably not entirely due to improvements in diagnosis and recording. The duration of the disease, whatever treatment is employed, has remained remarkably constant over the last 30 years and is between 3 and 4 years. Therapy probably increases the life span by a few months, and certainly increases the effective and useful life of patients considerably. Comparisons of the methods of treatment used show that better results have been obtained with external X radiation than with other methods so far employed. Radioactive phosphorus has been used in too few cases for any conclusions to be drawn. The only chemotherapeutic agent used at the Royal Cancer Hospital at present is Myleran. The preliminary trials of this drug have been encouraging. There is no evidence as yet that any of the methods of treatment at our disposal can be regarded as a cure, but it is probable that some prolongation of life is obtained in a few patients and certain that in many more treatment can so alter the quality of life as to turn it from one of invalidism into one not only tolerable but enjoyable and worth while.