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June 16, 2026This week we discuss “cancer”—the most frightening and most difficult to treat—namely “leukemia,” which often occurs in people who are depressed and highly stressed. Let's find out why.
Tuesday, 28 November 2017, 08:30 a.m.
Our bodies already have a process for managing “malignant cells” that often form into “cancer” in a balanced way. But whenever the body becomes weak and unable to destroy “cancer cells”—due to infection, stress and anxiety, or exposure to chemicals—that is when “cancer” begins to enter our lives!!
Especially the “most malignant” and “most difficult to treat” cancer such as “leukemia.”
Prof. Dr. Surapol Issaragrisil, Senior Director of the Bangkok Hematology Center, Wattanosoth Hospital, explains that the incidence of leukemia in Thailand tends to be increasing. The well-known and frequently discussed cause is exposure to “radioactive substances” in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, following the atomic bombings in World War II, after which an increased number of leukemia patients was found—a cause that can be clearly confirmed.
As for other causes, such as “electromagnetic fields” from high-voltage power lines and prolonged mobile phone use, studies do not indicate that everyone who uses a mobile phone for long periods will develop cancer. However, when comparing patients with normal individuals, it was found that patients used mobile phones more. So it is not the case that out of 100 people who use mobile phones heavily, all 100 will develop “leukemia.” This cause merely poses a higher risk than for normal individuals!!
“Leukemia” comes in 2 types: acute and chronic. The two types have different disease courses. The acute type develops rapidly, over days or weeks, originating in the “bone marrow.” Leukemia cells interfere with blood cell production in the bone marrow, reducing the production of various blood cells, causing symptoms such as fatigue, infection, fever, and abnormal bleeding such as bleeding gums and nosebleeds.
As for the chronic type, leukemia cells arise in the bone marrow. These cells can mature into adult cells, enter the blood, and travel to the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. The chronic type has fewer symptoms. The two types are therefore different, and at present the trend is increasing—especially the acute type, which is considered the most severe and the most difficult to treat.
Therefore, the symptoms to watch for in time are abnormal bleeding, anemia, and fever; one must promptly see a doctor for diagnosis. Doctors can distinguish the two types of “leukemia” by performing a complete blood count (CBC) to examine the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A definitive diagnosis is made through a bone marrow aspiration, which can determine which acute type it is.
As for treatment methods, these are chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. The treatment of each type of cancer differs from patient to patient. Treatment begins with chemotherapy until the disease goes into remission—meaning no cancer cells are found in the blood, fewer than 5 percent cancer cells are found in the bone marrow, and blood cell production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets is normal.
The technology for treatment by “stem cell transplantation” has advanced considerably. Previously, only bone marrow from a sibling with a matching “HLA” could be used. Now, marrow from a sibling with a half-matched “HLA,” or from parent to child and child to parent, can be used, with an equal chance of complete cure, achieving the same success.
In addition, those without siblings can find a donor through the Thai Red Cross Society, which maintains a registry of those wishing to donate stem cells. However, as mentioned, “leukemia” is a severe type of cancer that is difficult to cure, requiring full commitment to the treatment method. The patient must have good inspiration and morale, because whenever blood cell counts are low, poor self-care makes infection easy to contract!!
After treatment has brought the disease into remission, the next step is “how to prevent the disease from recurring,” through close patient follow-up. Choosing to eat thoroughly cooked, clean food is necessary; otherwise infection can easily occur. This includes eating high-protein foods because they help with blood cell production. And one should abandon the mistaken belief that…eating protein feeds the cancer, because this is not true. Since our bodies have many organs, such as the liver and kidneys, if protein is lacking, recovery will be difficult. Therefore, do not absolutely cut out protein.
Another important factor that promotes cancer is “stress,” because our bodies are constantly producing cancer cells, but our immune defenses can suppress them. However, whenever we are stressed, anxious, or depressed, the immune cells that destroy cancer cells decline, allowing the cancer to flare up. Therefore, if we are not stressed and not depressed, cancer has no way to harm us.
Finally, I would like everyone to think positively. Although a person who has “cancer” is considered unlucky, within that misfortune one should also find the good fortune that can come from having cancer. If we can find benefit from having this serious disease, then in addition to being able to treat the disease until symptoms improve, the patient's new life may even transform them into a different person. May you have less stress and think more positively.
Because surely no one wants “cancer” to come back again!!
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Column: Healthy Clean
By “Chayanit Kongdetsakda” …
