Blood cancer directly affects the production and function of blood cells. The malignant process often begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow stem cells mature and develop into one of three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. In the presence of an oncological disease, the process of normal cellular development is disrupted due to the uncontrolled growth of pathological blood cells. These are cancer cells that interfere with the basic functions of the blood. In particular, the mechanisms for providing protection against infections and preventing severe bleeding are violated.
Varieties
There are three main types of oncological pathologies, collectively called "blood cancer". Symptoms (signs), treatment and rehabilitation depend on the type of disorder and the stage of the disease.
- Leukemia. In this disease, cancer cells are found in the blood and bone marrow. The main symptom is the rapid accumulation of pathologically altered white blood cells (leukocytes). Increasing their numbercauses the body's inability to fight infections and interferes with the normal production of red blood cells and platelets.
- Lymphoma. This type of cancer affects the lymphatic system, which is responsible for removing excess fluid from the body and producing immune cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that prevents infection. Abnormal lymphocytes turn into lymphoma cells, which multiply and accumulate in the lymph nodes and other tissues. Over time, these cancers destroy the immune system.
- Myeloma. This is the name of cancer of plasma cells - white blood cells responsible for the production of antibodies to diseases and infections. Cancer undermines the immune system, weakening the body.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and lymphatic system.
There are many forms of this disease. Some are more common in children, others in adults.
Symptoms of blood cancer in adults (leukemia) vary depending on the subtype of the disease. However, a number of common features can be distinguished, among which are:
- fever or chills;
- chronic fatigue and weakness;
- frequent or severe infections;
- unexplained weight loss;
- inflamed lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen;
- tendency to bleeding and bruising;
- frequent nosebleeds;
- appearance of red dots on the skin (petechiae);
- increasedsweating, especially at night;
- bone pain;
- bone fragility.
Be sure to consult a physician if any of the above symptoms bother you.
Signs of leukemia are often devoid of clarity and specificity. They can easily be overlooked or attributed to a more common illness like the flu.
On rare occasions, a test done to diagnose another ailment reveals blood cancer. Causes, symptoms (signs), treatment and rehabilitation in such cases are individual.
Risk factors
There are factors that increase the risk of developing certain types of leukemia. These include the following circumstances:
- Treating a different kind of cancer. Leukemia can be a threat to patients who have completed a full course of radio or chemotherapy.
- Genetic pathologies. An increased risk of developing leukemia accompanies genetic pathologies such as Down syndrome.
- Exposure to certain chemicals. Of particular danger is benzene, which is part of gasoline.
- Smoking. Cigarette use increases the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia.
- Family history of leukemia. Like many diseases, leukemia can be caused by a hereditary factor.
However, not all people in risk groups develop leukemia. Conversely, potential oncologist patients are often unaware that they are at risk of blood cancer. Symptoms in women are in many ways similar to signs of hormonal failure or infection.
Myeloma
Myeloma (including multiple) is a cancer of plasma cells. These cells help fight infections by creating antibodies that recognize and destroy parasites.
Myeloma causes an accumulation of pathologically altered cells in the bone marrow, where they gradually crowd out he althy cells. Instead of producing useful antibodies, cancerous growths produce abnormal proteins that later cause kidney problems.
Myeloma does not require active treatment unless the patient is symptomatic. If the corresponding signs appear, the doctor prescribes procedures and medicines that alleviate the symptoms of this type of blood cancer.
In the early stages of the disease, there are usually no symptoms of blood cancer in adults. Later, the following conditions may occur:
- loss of appetite;
- fatigue;
- clouding of consciousness or disorientation in time and space;
- bone pain, especially in the back or chest;
- nausea;
- constipation;
- frequent infections;
- weight loss;
- weak or numb legs;
- excessive feeling of thirst.
Risk factors
The following circumstances increase the risk of developing myeloma:
- Age. In most cases, the disease is diagnosed in patients aged 60-70 years.
- Male. Symptoms (signs) of blood cancer inwomen appear less frequently than men.
- Negroid race. Blacks are twice as likely to have myeloma as Caucasians.
- Having a diagnosis of "monoclonal gammopathy of unknown etiology" in the medical history. One percent of patients with this plasma cell disease subsequently suffer from blood cancer.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system designed to fight disease.
The lymphatic system includes the lymph nodes (lymph glands), the spleen, the thymus gland, and the bone marrow. Cancer can affect all of these elements, as well as other organs throughout the body.
There are many varieties of this disease, but primarily it is divided into two types:
- Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer and the wishes of the patient. Commonly used are radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy drugs, and stem cell transplantation, which helps stop blood cancer. The causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease are determined on an individual basis.
Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Earlier this disease was called Hodgkin's disease. This type of cancer is diagnosed as an abnormal growth of cells in the lymphatic system that can spread beyond the lymphatic system. As the disease progresses, the body's ability to resist infections is impaired.
Innovative methods of diagnosis and treatmentHodgkin's lymphomas give patients with this diagnosis hope for a full recovery. Currently, the forecast continues to improve.
In order to ensure timely detection and treatment of the disease, special attention should be paid to the following main symptoms of blood cancer (Hodgkin's lymphoma):
- Painless inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Fever or chills.
- Excessive sweating at night (night flushes).
- Unexplained weight loss (ten percent or more of body weight).
- Loss of appetite.
- Itching.
- Increased sensitivity to alcohol or pain in the lymph nodes after drinking alcohol.
Risk factors
What can cause blood cancer? Factors that increase the risk of developing Hodgkin's lymphoma include the following:
- Age. This type of cancer is diagnosed in patients between the ages of 15 and 30, as well as those who have reached the age of 55.
- Family history of lymphoma. If a close relative has been diagnosed with any type of lymphoma (both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's), the patient is at risk because they can inherit blood cancer. Symptoms in women are usually characterized by sufficient specificity and allow for a diagnosis as soon as possible.
- Gender. In men, this disease occurs slightly more often than in women.
- Pasted Epstein-Barr infection. disease,caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (such as infectious mononucleosis) increase the risk of developing Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Weak immune system. The risk is higher if the patient is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS or if the patient has had an organ transplant requiring medication to suppress the immune response.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, tumors develop from lymphocytes - white blood cells.
This disease is much more common than Hodgkin's lymphoma. Statistically, the most common subtypes of this blood cancer are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL) and follicular lymphoma.
It is not always possible to immediately determine this blood cancer by subjective signs. Symptoms in women, as in men, include the following:
- Painless swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin.
- Pain or inflammation in the abdomen.
- Chest pain, cough or difficulty breathing.
- Fatigue.
- Increased body temperature.
- Excessive sweating at night (night flushes).
- Weight loss.
Risk factors
Some circumstances can increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Among them:
- Taking medications that depress the immune system. Medicines of this type are used in organ transplants.
- Diseases caused by certain viruses and bacteria. Viruses associated with developmentnon-Hodgkin's lymphoma include HIV and Epstein-Barr infection. Among bacteria, Helicobacter pylori is considered especially dangerous, causing stomach and duodenal ulcers.
- Exposure to chemicals. Some substances, including those used to kill pests and weeds, rarely cause blood cancer. Women tend to show symptoms faster than men.
- Old age. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can present at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed in people over 60.
Scary numbers
In the US, a diagnosis of blood cancer is made approximately every three minutes. Every ten minutes, one American dies from leukemia, myeloma, or lymphoma, or about 152 people a day.
More than 310,000 US residents are living with a diagnosis of leukemia, nearly 731,000 are being treated for Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 89,000 are battling myeloma. The prognosis is most favorable for Caucasians.
