This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
Published on July 1, 2019, Bob Collymore's battle with cancer has been a public affair. The Safaricom CEO was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
Leukemia is cancer of the blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow. In an interview with Jeff Koinange, Bob Collymore revealed that he had been suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia for about six months before his diagnosis.
"I was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors told me at the time that I had probably had it for about 6 months… I went to London and they told me I had Acute Myeloid Leukemia- A rare kind of blood cancer that is curable." — Bob Collymore
Some common signs and symptoms of Leukemia include fever or chills, persistent fatigue, frequent or severe infections, losing weight without trying, swollen lymph nodes, easy bleeding or bruising, and recurrent nosebleeds.
Treatment options for Leukemia depend on the type of cancer and the person's age and overall state of health. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia, while radiation therapy is used less commonly. Bone marrow transplantation may also be used in some cases.
Causes and Risk Factors ¶
The exact causes of the genetic mutation that turns bone marrow cells into Leukemia cells are unknown. However, exposure to high levels of radiation and benzene are known to increase the risk of developing Acute Leukemia.
