Is blood cancer?

Cancer, the ‘c word’, a word that strikes fear into the hearts and minds of many. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is “a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade other tissues.” And while we all know about breast and lung cancer, there’s one type of cancer that not everyone may be aware of – blood cancer.

What are Blood Cancers?

Blood cancers, also known as hematologic malignancies, occur when abnormal blood cells start growing uncontrollably. There are various types of blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Each type affects different parts of the body’s immune system resulting in various symptoms such as tiredness/fatigue, fever, unexplained weight loss or itchy skin.

Leukemia

Leukemia is the most common form of blood cancer where white blood cells multiply rapidly in an individual’s bone marrow/lymph nodes causing difficulty fighting off infections. The three main types include Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Lymphoma

When malignant white blood cells collect in varying parts of an individual’s lymphatic system they result in lymphoma. Two major groups exist: Hodgkin’s lymphoma with its famous Reed-Sternberg cell presence when examined under a microscope by pathologists, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma accounting for over 90% cases within this group threshold. Both require different treatments administered whereby radiation or chemotherapy could make way after surgical procedures have taken place prior.

Myeloma

Myelomas specifically targets plasma-cells crucial to producing antibodies required within our bodies’ ability to attack viruses/bacteria effectively.The outcome being plasma-cells generating abnormally while failing to function correctly. This cancer mainly impacts bone structure within our bodies performing its functions like blood production, temperature regulation amongst others.

Causes

The exact causes of blood cancers remain unknown; however, there are several potential risk factors associated with these diseases that individuals should be aware of.

These include:

• Genetic predisposition
• Exposure to radiation
• Environmental toxins (e.g., benzene)
• Certain viral infections (e.g., HIV)
• Reduced immunity system from prior chemotherapy/radiation administration

While it’s virtually impossible to avoid all these risk factors solely on one individual depending on genetic makeup, a healthy lifestyle combined with regular health check-ups and testing could ensure early detection/treatment options available for tackling potential risks towards better healing.

Symptoms

Blood cancers often present vague symptoms which makes them challenging to diagnose at later stages where the disease has grabbed control from inside the body already. Although various signs may lead an individual towards suspicion faint red flags such as fatigue, fever/, weight loss, swollen abdomen/lymph nodes/ or visual rashes among many cautionary signals require care/appropriate medical attention given timely indicators not always presenting themselves because they can vary quite widely across different types of hematologic malignancies leading up asymptomatic infections leaving cases undiagnosed until later infection.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Upon recording any indicative behaviour regarding potential risks related with blood cancers; doctors perform complete analyses through intravenous sampling i.e phlebotomies followed by biopsy when required. Confirming diagnosis after further delving into deeper areas pinpointed during preliminary activity via CT/PET/Hematological examination becomes mandatory ensuring accurate diagnosis is accomplished before further treatment plans commence by oncologists deciding what treatment option would work best on respective case.Treatment varies greatly based upon type/location/stage at which disease has developed for instance leukemia requires constant chemotherapy injection/antibiotics — lymphoma necessitates extended periods of chemotherapy/radiation followed by surgical procedures at various stages while myeloma requires close observation to gauge cell tendencies, targeted drug administration in addition of constant checkups based on its unique development trends.

Chemotherapy

Once begun, treatment typically begins with chemotherapy. This method uses powerful drugs that target and kill cells rapidly dividing such as malignant blood cells. However, the problem is normal growing cells are also affected resulting in hair loss, nausea, low energy levels amongst other undesirable consequences.

Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT)

Chemotherapy has been significant over the years; however, SCT’s quickly become an option when chemotherapy stops serving a purpose for extracting any remaining cancer cells from within bloodstream/immune system instead using prior healthy stem-cells retrieved via bone marrow or directed towards itself extracted peripheral bloodstream. The procedure ensures newer/healthier blood that could functionally replace previously flourishing hematopoietic group.

Prevention

There isn’t a single known secure way to absolutely prevent all cancers from invading our bodies with or without genetic predisposition made clear via tests; but simply leading lives subjugated towards healthier lifestyle choices goes a long way towards providing immunity from potential challenges thrown our way through time. One must embrace diversity/expanse of food-groups ensuring daily balanced nutrient intake filled with minerals/vitamins helping support functionality across board alongside maintaining healthy weight for every individual body-mass-index according to nutritional needs prescribed too, preferably coupled with several hours per week dedicated solely towards exercising regularly promoting good mental health besides physical stability

Conclusion

As we’ve seen above, Blood cancer comes in different forms affecting multiple parts of one’s immune system rather substantially causing untold breaks along natural paths straining medical research efforts trying combat diseases categorised under this umbrella term in all their complex glory although scientists have progressed significantly over past few decades developing new treatments/diagnostic techniques than ever before benefiting numerous innocents globally.

While there’s no single known cause, there are various risk factors associated that we need to be aware of while living healthy and keeping a close eye on any suspicious symptoms could help ensure early detection and treatment options. And as always said: ‘prevention is better than cure,’ so it’s never too late to make positive lifestyle adjustments towards preventing future occurrences through self care/better check-ups paving the way for healthier futures blissful altogether.