Blood Cancer- Part 1

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 The majority of blood cancers, also known as hematologic cancers, begin in the bone marrow, where blood is made. When abnormal blood cells begin to grow out of control, they cause blood cancer by interfering with the normal blood cells' ability to fight infection and make new blood cells.




Types of blood cancer


The three main types of blood and bone marrow cancer are leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma:


  1. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood that grows in the bone marrow and blood. It occurs when the body produces an excessive number of abnormal white blood cells and prevents the bone marrow from producing platelets and red blood cells.

  2. A blood cancer known as non-Hodgkin lymphoma originates in the lymphatic system from lymphocytes—a type of white blood cell that aids the body in fighting infections.

  3. Hodgkin lymphoma is a blood cancer that begins as lymphocytes in the lymphatic system. The Reed-Sternberg cell, an abnormal lymphocyte, is characteristic of Hodgkin lymphoma.

  4. A blood cancer called multiple myeloma begins in the plasma cells, which are made in the bone marrow and are a type of white blood cell. Learn about the various stages of multiple myeloma as well.


There are also less common forms of blood and bone marrow cancers, or associated disorders, including:


  1. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): These are rare conditions that may result from damage to blood-forming cells in the bone marrow.

  2. Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs): These rare blood cancers occur when the body overproduces white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets. The three main subcategories are essential thrombocythemia (ET), myelofibrosis (MF) and polycythemia vera (PV).

  3. Amyloidosis: This rare disorder, characterized by the buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid, is not a form of cancer. But it is closely associated with multiple myeloma.

  4. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia: This is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that starts in B cells.

  5. Aplastic anaemia: This rare condition occurs when key stem cells are damaged and can only be treated with a bone marrow transplant.


Blood cancer symptoms


Some common bone marrow and blood cancer symptoms include:


  • Fever, chills

  • Persistent fatigue, weakness

  • Loss of appetite, nausea

  • Unexplained weight loss

  • Night sweats

  • Bone/joint pain

  • Abdominal discomfort

  • Headaches

  • Shortness of breath

  • Frequent infections

  • Itchy skin or skin rash

  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms or groin


Causes of blood cancer


All blood cancers are caused by mutations in the genetic material—the DNA—of blood cells. Other risk factors vary based on the specific type of blood cancer.


Risk factors for developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common form of leukemia in adults, include:


  • Advancing age

  • Gender: being male

  • Exposure to industrial chemicals such as benzene

  • Smoking

  • History of cancer treatment

  • Exposure to high doses of radiation

  • History of other blood cancers


Risk factors for developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma include:


  • Exposure to certain industrial chemicals, herbicides and insecticides

  • History of chemotherapy

  • Radiation exposure

  • Compromised immune system

  • History of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus


Risk factors for developing multiple myeloma include:


  • Advancing age

  • Gender: Being male

  • Race: Higher risk among African-Americans

  • Obesity or extra body weight




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