What is Blood Cancer Causes Symptoms Diagnosis and Types
The stem cells present in bone marrow develop into three distinct blood cells, namely, platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells. When the production of blood is interrupted it often gives rise to blood cancer.
With that knowledge, let’s move along to find out more about blood cancer symptoms, blood cancer reasons and other vital factors of this disease.
What is Blood Cancer?
Hematologic cancer or blood cancer develops when the blood cells and bone marrow of a person get affected. It directly hampers the production and functioning of these cells and subsequently leads to abnormal growth of cancer cells.
With that being said, let’s learn about different types of blood cancer.
Types of Blood Cancer
Typically, there are three types of blood cancer, namely – leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Read along to gain valuable insight about them in brief.
Leukaemia
This type of blood cancer tends to affect the WBCs or leukocytes along with the bone marrow and hampers its ability to produce blood platelets and RBCs. It occurs when a body produces abnormal blood cells rapidly.
It is further divided into 4 types, namely – acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system and its ability to fight against infectious diseases. It is the abnormal lymphocytes of WBCs which become lymphoma cells and grow uncontrollably in lymph nodes and tissues.
Typically, there are two types of lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and they affect the bone marrow, blood cells and spleen.
Myeloma
Plasma cells produce disease-fighting antibodies. Notably, in myeloma, the production of plasma cells gets hampered, and as a result, the immune system starts to weaken. It directly makes the body prone to several infections and diseases.
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Test Your Knowledge: How blood cancer is caused in each of these cases? a) Leukaemia b) Lymphoma c) Myeloma.
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Symptoms of Blood Cancer
Some of the most common blood cancer symptoms are as follows –
Fatigue and malaise.
Easy bruising.
Shortness of breath.
Recurrent fever.
Delirium and confusion.
Recurrent infections.
Bleeding gums.
Brittle bones.
Weight loss.
Anorexia.
Nausea.
Sweating at night.
Enlargement of lymph node.
Backache, abdominal and bone pain.
Persistent cough.
Lack of appetite.
skin irritation.
difficulty to urinate.
Test Your Knowledge: Which of these is the red blood cell?
Erythrocytes b) Leucocytes c) Plasma d) Thrombocytes.
What Causes Blood Cancer?
Though the specific causes of blood cancer are still unknown, several factors have been closely associated with its occurrence.
Some of the prominent factors include –
Ageing.
Weak immune system.
Heredity factors.
Excessive smoking and consumption of alcohol.
Prolonged exposure to chemotherapy.
Infections.
Organ transplantation.
The treatment of blood cancer focuses on the eradication of the disease. Notably, the procedure tends to vary from patient to patients and depend on factors like age. Type of cancer and its severity are also taken into consideration.
Following are some therapies which are extensively used for treatment -
Radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy.
Stem cell transplantation.
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FAQs on Blood Cancer Overview Definition Types and Treatment
1. What is blood cancer?
Blood cancer is a type of cancer that affects the blood cells, bone marrow, or lymphatic system, leading to abnormal growth of blood-forming cells. It interferes with the normal production and function of healthy blood cells. The main characteristics include:
- Uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal white blood cells
- Reduced production of normal red blood cells and platelets
- Impaired immune function and oxygen transport
2. What are the main types of blood cancer?
The three main types of blood cancer are leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. They differ based on the cells they affect:
- Leukemia: Cancer of blood-forming tissues, mainly affecting white blood cells in bone marrow.
- Lymphoma: Cancer of the lymphatic system, especially lymphocytes.
- Multiple myeloma: Cancer of plasma cells, a type of B-lymphocyte in bone marrow.
3. What causes blood cancer?
Blood cancer is caused by mutations in the DNA of blood-forming cells that lead to uncontrolled cell division. These genetic changes may result from:
- Exposure to radiation or harmful chemicals (e.g., benzene)
- Previous chemotherapy treatment
- Certain viral infections
- Inherited genetic conditions
4. What are the common symptoms of blood cancer?
Common symptoms of blood cancer include fatigue, frequent infections, and unexplained bleeding due to abnormal blood cell production. Typical signs include:
- Persistent tiredness from low red blood cell count (anemia)
- Frequent infections due to defective white blood cells
- Easy bruising or bleeding from low platelet levels
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Unexplained weight loss
5. How does leukemia affect the body?
Leukemia affects the body by producing large numbers of abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy blood cells in the bone marrow. This leads to:
- Reduced red blood cells causing anemia
- Low platelet count causing bleeding problems
- Weak immune response despite high white cell count
6. What is the difference between leukemia and lymphoma?
The main difference between leukemia and lymphoma is that leukemia primarily starts in the bone marrow and blood, while lymphoma begins in the lymphatic system. Key distinctions include:
- Leukemia: Affects circulating blood cells and bone marrow.
- Lymphoma: Forms solid tumors in lymph nodes and lymph tissues.
- Both involve abnormal lymphocytes but differ in location and spread.
7. What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells normally produce antibodies, but in myeloma:
- Abnormal plasma cells multiply uncontrollably
- They produce defective antibodies (M proteins)
- They weaken bones and impair kidney function
8. How is blood cancer diagnosed?
Blood cancer is diagnosed through blood tests and bone marrow examination to detect abnormal cells. Common diagnostic methods include:
- Complete blood count (CBC) to measure blood cell levels
- Bone marrow biopsy to examine abnormal cell growth
- Immunophenotyping and genetic testing to identify cancer type
9. Can blood cancer be treated?
Blood cancer can be treated using therapies that target abnormal blood cells and restore normal cell production. Common treatment options include:
- Chemotherapy to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells
- Radiation therapy in certain cases
- Targeted therapy and immunotherapy
- Stem cell (bone marrow) transplant to replace diseased marrow
10. Is blood cancer genetic or hereditary?
Blood cancer is usually caused by acquired genetic mutations, but some cases may have hereditary risk factors. Most cases occur due to:
- Somatic mutations in blood-forming cells
- Environmental exposures
