Blood cancers affect the production and function of your blood cells. Most of the cases blood cancer starts in the bone marrow where blood is produced. Stem cells in your bone marrow get matured and developed into three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. In most blood cancers, the normal blood cell development process is interrupted by the uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell.
The abnormal blood cells, or cancerous cells, prevent your blood from performing many of its functions, like fighting off infections or preventing serious bleeding. There are types of blood cancer i.e., Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma. Manaaki provides best Cancer hospitals in India for blood cancer treatment.
Risk factor: Risk Factors are identified characteristics that can potentially increase a person’s likelihood of developing a condition. The causes of blood cancer are still unclear, however, there are certain risk factors that can be associated with blood cancer
Gender: Some blood cancers occur more often in males than females. However, this doesn’t mean that females don’t get blood cancer. There are simply a higher percentage of males who get certain blood cancers than females.
Effect of some chemotherapy drugs: Some chemotherapy drugs, including alkylating agents, platinum agents, and topoisomerase II inhibitors, have been linked to an increased risk of certain blood cancers.
Exposure to radiation: Previous exposure to radiation treatment for other cancers can increase the risk of developing blood cancer.
Contact with some chemicals: Certain chemicals, including some used in chemotherapy treatments used for cancer, can increase a person’s risk of developing blood cancer. There are some inherited syndromes that are associated with a higher risk of developing certain blood cancers, including Fanconianemia, Bloom syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia, Diamond-Blackfananemia, Schwachman-Diamond syndrome, Down syndrome, severe congenital neutropenia, trisomy 8, and neurofibromatosis type 1.
Having a family history of blood cancer: Having a close family member (like a parent or a sibling) who has a certain blood cancer can potentially increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.
Types of Blood Cancer:
- Leukemia is a type of cancer found in your blood and bone marrow, is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. The high number of abnormal white blood cells is not able to fight infection, and they impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets.
- Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which removes excess fluids from your body and produces immune cells. It is a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Abnormal lymphocytes become lymphoma cells, which multiply and collect in your lymph nodes and other tissues. Over time, these cancerous cells impair your immune system.
- Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. Plasma cells are white blood cells that produce disease- and infection-fighting antibodies in your body. These cells prevent the normal production of antibodies, leaving your body’s immune system weakened and susceptible to infection.
Signs and symptoms of Blood Cancer:
Each type of blood cancer is different, but they can share some common symptoms and signs. Some people may not have any symptoms until the disease is advanced. Additionally, sometimes the symptoms may be mistaken for a severe cold or flu.
- Coughing or chest pain
- Fever or chills
- Frequent infections
- Itchy skin or rash
- Loss of appetite or nausea
- Night sweats
- Persistent weakness and fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Swollen, painless lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin
Success Rate:
The success rate of blood cancer survival depends how early the cancer is identified. However, it can be anywhere between 60-90% depending on the treatment protocol chosen and early detection of blood cancer. There is a 70% success rate seen in patients who have undergone bone marrow transplant as a treatment for blood.