Blood Cancer: Introduction
Blood cancer, also called as hematologic cancer, starts in the bone where blood is produced. It occurs when abnormal blood cells start growing out of control, hampering the function of normal blood cells, which fight off infection and produce new blood cells. This blog will make you aware about the common symptoms of Blood cancer, its Types and Treatments.
Blood Cancer is directly related to the growth of malignant cells in the bone marrow or blood, plasma, and lymphatic system, which is mainly popular as Leukemia, Myeloma, and Lymphoma respectively. Leukemia nurtures in the bone marrow which lessens the power of bone marrow to make blood cells (Red blood cells, white blood cells). as well as platelets.
Some of the Main Symptoms of Blood Cancer Include:
- fever
- chills
- night
- sweats
- persistent fatigue
- weakness,
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- weight loss
- bone and joint pain
- abdominal
- discomfort
- headaches
- shortness of breath
- frequent infections
- itchy skin
- and skin rashes
- swollen lymph nodes in the neck and underarms
- easy bruising
- bleeding gums
- difficulty while urinating.
Types of Blood Cancers
There are three main types of blood cancers: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma which may lead to various symptoms of blood cancer listed above
Some Breif on the main types of blood cancer:
1. Leukemia
- Leukemia is a blood cancer that arises from the blood and bone marrow.
- It is a condition that occurs when the body creates uncontrollable amount of abnormal white blood cells that interfere with the bone marrow’s function of making red blood cells and platelets.
2. Lymphoma
- The blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system from lymphocytic cells, a type of white blood cell that helps the body ght infections, is called as Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Hodgkin lymphoma is characterized by the presence of an abnormal lymphocyte called the Reed-Sternberg cell.
3. Multiple Myeloma
- The blood cancer that begins in the white blood cell, called plasma cell, made in the bone marrow is called multiple myeloma.
- This condition causes the cancer cells to accumulate in the bone marrow, where they overcrowd among the healthy blood cells.
Blood Cancer Causes
Various factors are associated with the onset of blood cancers:
- Aging
- Family history
- Weak immune system
- Certain infections
Treatment and Therapy Options for Bone cancer
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of anticancer drugs that interfere with the cancer cells in the body and stop their growth. Sometimes, chemotherapy is also given before a stem cell transplant.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is used to destroy the cancer cells from the body and to relieve pain or discomfort. It may also be given before a stem cell transplant.
Stem cell transplantation
Stem cell transplantation infuses healthy blood-forming stem cells into the body while replacing the damaged and diseased ones.
TREATMENT APPROACHES
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) involves the intravenous (IV) infusion of autologous or allogeneic stem cells to re-establish hematopoietic function in patients whose bone marrow or immune system is damaged. It provides a life-prolonging or potentially curative treatment option for patients with hematologic malignancies. It was first used as a treatment for some types of cancer but is now widely used as a therapy for various autoimmune diseases. HSCT is not considered to be an oncological procedure but as hematological process even though it treats cancers.
Bone Marrow Transplantation
Bone marrow transplant is a procedure that infuses healthy blood-forming stem cells into the body replacing the diseased bone marrow. A bone marrow transplant is also called a stem cell transplant
What is the difference between a stem cell transplant and a bone marrow transplant?
When doctors talk about a “stem cell transplant” or a “bone marrow transplant,” they are referring to one procedure called as stem cell transplantation. The only difference is from which location of the body the stem cells are extracted for transplantation. The transplants themselves are the same
When do you need a stem cell transplant treatment?
• To replace diseased or damaged marrow with new stem cells.
• To provide new stem cells, which can directly help in killing cancer cells.
• In case of cancers that affect the marrow, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
• In congenital neutropenia, which is an inherited disorder that causes recurring infections.
• Disorders in which the marrow stops making new blood cells
• In inherited disorders such as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is the condition of having a low platelet count of no known cause.
Risk factors
- Platelet counts below 50,000 mm3 increase the risk of bleeding from trauma
- Platelet counts below 20,000/mm3 increase the risk of spontaneous bleeding respectively.
Signs and symptoms:
- Nosebleeds
- Gums bleeding
- Blood in the vomit or urine
Treatment
Oral corticosteroid and drugs that boost platelet production.
Hematology disease in Geriatric population
- Iron deficiency anemia and the anemia of chronic disease are the most common types of anemia in the elderly.
- Nutritional anemias due to folate or vitamin B12 deficiency are treatable.
- The most prevalent type of leukemia in the elderly is chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
A benign asymptomatic course requires no therapy, but aggressive disease requires treatment.
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