How to Recognize and Respond to Blood Cancer Warning Signs
Blood cancers are also known as hematologic cancers. It occurs in the bone marrow, the production house of blood. Blood cancer may occur due to the growth of abnormal blood cells in our body. They tend to interrupt bodily function and normal blood cells which are responsible for producing new blood cells and fighting off any infection. Therefore, blood cancers affect the bone marrow and blood cells. The abnormal cells are cancerous and lead to excessive reproduction of white blood cells.
The Symptoms of Blood Cancer
There are multiple signs and symptoms of blood cancer. These depend on the type of blood cancer a patient is experiencing. Many people do not feel the symptoms until the disease reaches its advanced stage. Occasionally the symptoms can also be mistaken as signs of severe flu or cold. The overall symptoms include:
Fever or chill
Night sweats
Frequent infection
Coughing or chest pain
Itchy skin or rash
Shortness of breath
Loss of appe or nausea
Swollen armpits, groin and painless lymph nodes in the neck
Types of Blood Cancer
There are three types of blood cancers. These are –
Leukemia –Leukemia is a kind of cancer that is commonly found in bone marrow and blood. It is caused when the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells gets initiated. These white blood cells are unable to fight the infection and thus, impair the ability of bone marrow for further production of healthy red blood cells and platelets.
Myeloma – it is a form of cancer that is caused in the plasma cells. Plasma cells are actually white blood cells that produce antibodies which are responsible for fighting infection and diseases in the body. The normal production of these antibodies is hampered by Myeloma cells. This weakens the immune system, and hence, the body becomes susceptible to infection.
Lymphoma – This Is a blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system of our body. The system is responsible for removing the excess fluids from the body and producing immune cells. A lymphocyte is a kind of white blood cell that helps in fighting infection. Some of these lymphocytes become abnormal and form lymphoma cells. Later, they start multiplying in the lymph nodes and other tissues. Over time, the cancerous cells impair the immune system.
As per the recent study, there have been more than 100 types of blood cancers recognized. Treatments for these vary based on active surveillance apart from cancer-directed therapy and standard treatments like targeted agents, chemotherapies and immunotherapies. Therefore, it is important to have an accurate diagnosis before deciding on the treatment.
Staging of Blood Cancer
First, several tests will be conducted to determine the type and stage of blood cancer. With the staging process, it is possible to discern the severity and spread of cancer. Staging is often paired with the proper diagnosis. Some of the procedures and tests for diagnosing blood cancer are:
The exam of Bone marrow
Physical exam
Test of Diagnostic imaging – PET scan, X-Ray and CT scan
Blood tests
Removal of Surgical lymph node
Staging helps every member of the caregiving team in knowing the location, spread and type of particular cancer.This system must be consistent, and cancers tend to affect organs, including other tissues.
What are the Causes of Blood Cancer?
Blood cancers are caused by changes, or technically, due to mutations in DNA of the blood cells. The abnormal behavior of the blood cells is caused due to mutation. In most cases, these changes are often linked to certain uncontrollable factors. It can happen anytime in a person's life, and they are genetic faults which have the risk of passing down to children. Although it is still unknown why a person develops blood cancer. However, there are certain things that link the probability of this fatal disease. These are:
Ethnicity
Sex
Family history
Some specific health conditions and treatments
Age
Radiation of chemical exposure
Is It Possible To Reduce the Risk of Blood Cancer?
Lifestyle factors like daily exercising and diet have very little impact on the risk of developing blood cancer. However, following a healthy lifestyle can certainly reduce the chances of developing symptoms.
Explanation of Blood Cancer and its Formation
Our body is made from trillions of cells, and they form exceptional building blocks. Our body and even the blood are made up of cells. The cells in our body are constantly facing death and again getting replaced by new ones. This is the process through which our body grows and repairs. Usually, cells get divided (split) in a controlled
manner to come up with new cells whenever required. The development of cells,their behavior and death rate is controlled by a substance in our blood, called DNA. Complications with DNA or improper function cause the blood cells to go abnormal and stop further development. They don't die, multiply or divide when they should, and this causes the formation of blood cancer. After a certain stage, these abnormal blood cells keep multiplying and outnumber the healthy ones which are properly functioning. This stops the body from staying healthy, especially when it comes to fighting infections and repairing the damage.
Types of General Treatment Available to Cure Blood Cancer
As you know, the treatment process is determined based on the type of blood cancer a patient has. However, the general treatment process includes:
Wait and Watch
Some people might not need treatment straight away, and some don't even need it. If a blood cancer is in the slow-growing process, the doctor usually recommends waiting and watching. In this process, the patient is kept under regular check-ups, monitoring and blood tests. No active treatment is required at the moment. However, this doesn't mean that the patient can't be treated. This process opts when the doctor believes that there is no reason to implement a treatment process. This treatment is the best process until the patient experiences any harmful or troublesome symptom.
Chemotherapy
The treatment process of chemotherapy includes drugs that kill or destroy the cancerous cells. This treatment process is often given directly into the vein. This is done so that the drug travels throughout the body within the nervous system and kills the cancer cells. This is known as intravenous chemotherapy. It is known to have an infusion or drip. In most cases, chemotherapy comes in a bag of fluid attached to a tube. This tube goes in the vein, inserted from the hand, chest or arm.
Receiving chemotherapy in this way requires several hours, sometimes reaching more than a day. Most patients receive chemotherapy as an outpatient, which means they come to the hospital to receive the treatment and go back to home after the process is done.
Conclusion
The risk factor for blood cancer is still unknown and not fully understood. However, completely on the belief, it is considered that the formation of this fatal disease develops from the combination of environmental and genetic factors.
How to Make Notes on Blood Cancer Before an Exam
Go through Vedantu’s Blood Cancer Symptoms - Types, Stages, Causes and Treatment
This page needs to be gone through thoroughly
Highlight all the important portions here
use drawings or flow charts to understand the concept well
Do not write down everything that’s on the page
Write brief sentences
Use your own words to write the notes down
Revise from it before an exam
How Vedanu Contains Relevant Study Material on Blood Cancer for the Students to Read From
Vedantu has apt information on blood cancer that all students can go through. The material makes a lot of sense as it has been written down in simple terms by the Biology teachers. Anyone who reads this page can understand how it's caused, what its symptoms are and what the treatment protocols are. The apt knowledge on blood cancer will assist all students of Biology in answering questions during exams. It will also enhance the learning of all those students who wish to pursue Biology in their later years as knowing about any disease in depth will be an added advantage to them.
FAQs on Blood Cancer Symptoms: Key Signs & Diagnostic Steps
1. What are the common early symptoms of blood cancer?
The early symptoms of blood cancer can often be mistaken for the flu or other common illnesses. Key indicators to watch for include:
- Persistent fatigue and weakness that doesn't improve with rest.
- Fever, chills, or frequent night sweats.
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite.
- Frequent or severe infections, as the body's immune system is compromised.
- Swollen, but often painless, lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin.
- Shortness of breath and pale skin due to anaemia.
2. What are the three main types of blood cancer?
Blood cancers are primarily classified into three main types based on the kind of blood cell affected:
- Leukemia: This cancer originates in the blood and bone marrow. It results in the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells, which are unable to fight infection and impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets.
- Lymphoma: This cancer affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune network. Abnormal lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) become lymphoma cells, which multiply and collect in lymph nodes and other tissues.
- Myeloma: This is a cancer of the plasma cells, another type of white blood cell that produces antibodies to fight infection. Myeloma cells prevent the normal production of antibodies, leaving the body susceptible to infection.
3. Why does blood cancer cause symptoms like frequent infections and easy bruising?
These symptoms are a direct result of how cancer cells affect the bone marrow. The uncontrolled growth of cancerous blood cells crowds out the healthy, functional cells. This leads to:
- Frequent Infections: The overproduction of abnormal white blood cells (or a lack of normal ones) weakens the immune system, making the body unable to effectively fight off bacteria and viruses.
- Easy Bruising and Bleeding: Cancerous cells can suppress the production of platelets, the blood components responsible for clotting. With fewer platelets, even minor bumps can cause significant bruising, and cuts may bleed for longer than usual.
4. Are there specific blood cancer symptoms that appear on the skin?
Yes, certain blood cancers, particularly leukemia, can manifest through skin symptoms. These occur when cancer cells affect blood vessels or platelet counts. Common skin-related signs include:
- Petechiae: These are tiny, pinpoint-sized red or purple dots that appear in clusters on the skin, often on the legs. They are caused by minor bleeding under the skin due to low platelet levels.
- Rashes and Itchy Skin: Some types of lymphoma and leukemia can cause persistent itching or skin rashes.
- Pale Skin: A reduction in healthy red blood cells (anaemia) can cause the skin to look pale or washed out.
5. How do doctors typically diagnose and stage blood cancer?
Diagnosing blood cancer involves several steps to confirm the presence of the disease and determine its extent. The process usually includes:
- Blood Tests: A complete blood count (CBC) can reveal abnormal levels of white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets.
- Bone Marrow Biopsy: A sample of bone marrow tissue is extracted, usually from the hip bone, to be examined for cancer cells. This is a definitive test for many blood cancers like leukemia and myeloma.
- Staging: This process determines the severity and spread of the cancer. For lymphomas, it involves imaging tests like CT or PET scans to see which lymph nodes are affected. For leukemia, staging is less about location and more about cell characteristics and counts.
6. What is the fundamental cause of blood cancer at a cellular level?
The primary cause of blood cancer is a genetic mutation within the DNA of a single blood-forming cell in the bone marrow. This mutation disrupts the normal cell life cycle, causing the cell to multiply uncontrollably instead of maturing and dying as it should. These abnormal, cancerous cells then crowd out healthy cells, leading to the symptoms and complications of the disease.
7. How do the symptoms of Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma differ?
While there is overlap, the primary symptoms of the three main types of blood cancer often differ based on which part of the blood system is affected:
- Leukemia: Since it affects the bone marrow's ability to produce all blood cells, symptoms are often systemic, including fatigue (from anaemia), frequent infections (from abnormal white cells), and easy bleeding (from low platelets).
- Lymphoma: As it targets the lymphatic system, the most characteristic symptom is a painless swelling in the lymph nodes of the neck, armpits, or groin.
- Myeloma: This cancer affects plasma cells, which can accumulate in the bones. Therefore, a key symptom is often bone pain, especially in the back or ribs, along with kidney problems and heightened susceptibility to infections.
8. What is the difference between a cause and a risk factor for blood cancer?
It's important to distinguish between a direct cause and a risk factor. The direct cause of blood cancer is a specific genetic mutation that makes a cell cancerous. A risk factor, however, is any condition or exposure that increases the probability of this mutation occurring. For example, exposure to high levels of radiation is a risk factor, but it does not guarantee that cancer will develop. It simply raises the statistical chance of the causative mutation happening.
9. Is blood cancer curable with modern medical treatments?
Yes, many types of blood cancer are highly treatable, and for many patients, a cure is possible. The goal of treatment is to achieve long-term remission, where no cancer cells are detectable in the body. Advances in treatments like chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplants have significantly improved survival rates. The prognosis largely depends on the specific type of blood cancer, the stage at diagnosis, and the patient's overall health.
