What is blood cancer and its effect?

Question

Blood is made up of multiple type of cells which have different functions. Uncontrolled proliferation of one of the components of blood leading to its overpopulation and suppression of other components is called blood cancer. It may be of many types called leukaemia mostly, though there may be many other types.

Presentation may be mostly due to overpopulation of cells as they are non-productive and non-functional, patients may have prolonged fever, frequent infection, bleeding from any site or bruises, anaemia, weakness, bone pain, lump or lymphadenopathy, enlargement of liver or spleen leading to fullness or lumpy feeling in abdomen etc. Any of above may be present depending on type and extent of disease.

There is no specific cause of blood cancers. It may be caused by some aberrant gene which may have become aberrant due to some injury by chemicals, radiation or even spontaneously leading to loss of control and uninhibited growth of particular component of blood.

It is usually diagnosed by peripheral blood examination and complete blood picture. Further tests may be bone marrow examination, flowcytometry etc. Bone marrow examination means aspiration of some cells from hip or centre of chest or sternum and examine under microscope.

Treatment for leukaemia is done by chemotherapy and if required bone marrow transplantation is done. Chemotherapy are injectable or oral medications given depending on type of cancers and usually given for a long period in case of leukaemia. Sometimes radiation therapy may be added for some type leukaemia or myelomas.

Neetu Singhal · Accepted Answer

Blood is made up of multiple type of cells which have different functions. Uncontrolled proliferation of one of the components of blood leading to its overpopulation and suppression of other components is called blood cancer. It may be of many types called leukaemia mostly, though there may be many other types.

Presentation may be mostly due to overpopulation of cells as they are non-productive and non-functional, patients may have prolonged fever, frequent infection, bleeding from any site or bruises, anaemia, weakness, bone pain, lump or lymphadenopathy, enlargement of liver or spleen leading to fullness or lumpy feeling in abdomen etc. Any of above may be present depending on type and extent of disease.

There is no specific cause of blood cancers. It may be caused by some aberrant gene which may have become aberrant due to some injury by chemicals, radiation or even spontaneously leading to loss of control and uninhibited growth of particular component of blood.

It is usually diagnosed by peripheral blood examination and complete blood picture. Further tests may be bone marrow examination, flowcytometry etc. Bone marrow examination means aspiration of some cells from hip or centre of chest or sternum and examine under microscope.

Treatment for leukaemia is done by chemotherapy and if required bone marrow transplantation is done. Chemotherapy are injectable or oral medications given depending on type of cancers and usually given for a long period in case of leukaemia. Sometimes radiation therapy may be added for some type leukaemia or myelomas.