Blood Cancer - 3 Most Common Types Of It!

Cancer is probably the most dreaded diseases of all. Blood cancer is a common type of cancer and affects not only the blood cells but can also affect other aspects of the body’s circulatory system such as the lymphatic system and the bone marrow as well.

There are three main types of blood cancer. These are:
Leukemia
This type of cancer originates in the blood cells and affects the circulatory system’s ability to produce red blood cells. It can also affect the bone marrow. Leukemia can also be categorized as acute or chronic. In cases of acute blood cancer, the patient may not exhibit any symptoms but in the case of chronic blood cancer, the symptoms may develop quite aggressively. These symptoms include:

1. Fatigue and weakness
2. Anemia
3. Shortness of breath
4. Unexplained weight loss
5. Pain in the joints
6. Skin rashes
7. Frequent infections
8. Fever
9. Headaches
10. Excessive sweating
11. Swollen lymph nodes

Lymphoma
This type of cancer affects the lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells that help the body fight infections. Lymphoma can be further categorized as Hodgkin Lymphoma or Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma with the former being characterized by the presence of B lymphocytes or the Reed-Sternberg cell.

Swollen lymph nodes are the primary symptoms of Lymphoma. This swelling is usually painless and may be accompanied by loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, night sweats and sudden cold bouts.

Myeloma
This type of cancer originates in the plasma cells. This is yet another type of white blood cells. Myeloma symptoms develop as the disease progresses. In its initial stages, there may be no visible symptoms. With time, patients will begin to notice tiredness, backaches, increased vulnerability to infections, shortness of breath, chest pain and kidney trouble.

Blood cancer treatment varies from person to person. The ideal treatment plan depends on a number of factors including the type of cancer, the stage it has been diagnosed at, the patient’s age and the speed at which the cancer is spreading.

Some of the most preferred forms of treatment for blood cancer are:

1. Chemotherapy: This involves the use of drugs to restrict the growth of cancer cells in the body. This may often be combined with stem cell transplants.
2. Stem cell transplant: This is a procedure that infuses healthy stem cells into the body. Stem cells have the ability to transform themselves into any type of cells and hence aid in producing new, healthy blood cells. Stem cells can be harvested from the patient’s bone marrow, blood or umbilical cord.
3. Radiation: Radiation is used to kill cancerous cells and relieve pain. It may also be used along with stem cell transplants.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!