Blood Cancer

Blood cancer refers to the uncontrolled division and growth of blood cells in the body that interfere with the physiological functions of normal blood cells. Blood cancer usually starts in the bone marrow where all the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are produced. Leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma are blood cancers that affect various blood cells.

Alternate Name

Hematologic cancer or Leukemia.

Associated Anatomy

Bone marrow cells.

Signs and Symptoms of Blood Cancer

The signs and symptoms can vary between individuals. Some typical ones are:

• Swollen lymph nodes, spleen, or liver
• High fever and chills
• Severe infections lasting for a long time
• Unexpected weight loss
• Fatigue and weakness
• Recurrent nosebleeds and bruising
• Poor wound healing
• Red spots (looks like rashes) on the skin
• Body and Bone tenderness
• Blood vomiting (in extreme cases)
• Frequent headaches
• Breathing difficulties

Kindly consult with an oncologist for an appropriate diagnosis.

Stages of Blood Cancer

Blood cancer can be divided into the following stages:

• Stage I: During the initial stages, lymph node swelling occurs due to the increase in the number of lymphocytes in the blood. It is treatable since the cancer has not spread.
• Stage II: The lymphocytes increase rapidly in the blood. Enlargement of the spleen, liver, and lymph nodes is generally noted at this stage.
• Stage III: The body's immune system cannot fight against the cancer cells. The liver, spleen, or lymph nodes are severely affected at this stage, causing anemia. The treatment is challenging.
• Stage IV: The platelets decrease rapidly, impacting the blood clotting process. Body organs like the lungs, intestines, and others may get affected. The patient also suffers from acute anemia.

Diagnosis Test for Blood Cancer

The doctor will do a physical examination to check for all possible signs and symptoms. They may prescribe a complete blood count test, bone marrow biopsy, and lymph node biopsy. Abnormal blood cell count and the biopsy can confirm blood cancer and its prognosis. Imaging techniques such as CT, MRI, and PET scans can also detect cancer.

Possible Blood Cancer Treatment

The blood cancer treatment plan depends upon the type of blood cancer, its severity, your general body health, and comorbidities (if any). The possible blood cancer treatment includes:

• Immunotherapy: The immune therapy treatment is widely used and has been proven to be effective in treating blood cancer. It directs the body's immune system to attack and kill specific cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy: This therapy uses powerful drugs that directly target the cancer cells in the body. Chemotherapy can be used alone or in combination with radiation to treat blood cancer.
• Bone marrow transplantation: In stem cell therapy or bone marrow transplantation, the patient’s blood-forming stem cells are replaced by the donor’s cells.
• Nutrition Plan: The oncologist may recommend a specific diet as a part of your blood cancer treatment plan during and/or after the therapy.

Clear all your doubts regarding the blood cancer treatment duration, risks, and complications, with the oncologist before starting the blood cancer treatment.

Risk Factors for Blood Cancer

The chances of blood cancer may increase due to the below:

• Genetic disorders: Inherited genetic abnormalities like Down's syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome, and neurofibromatosis may increase the risk of blood cancer.
• Cancer treatment: If you have undergone chemotherapy or radiation therapy for certain cancer, you may be at risk of suffering from leukemia.
• Chemical exposure: Prolonged exposure to benzene alters the blood cell DNA leading to cancer.
• Cigarette Smoking: Cigarettes usually contain formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, nicotine, etc. that act as carcinogenic substances.
• Family medical history: If any of your family members have been diagnosed with blood cancer, you may be at a greater risk of inheriting the cancerous genes.

Possible Complications of Blood Cancer

Advanced cancer can cause severe complications within the body. The tumor growth can cause nerve damage, jaundice, kidney damage, blocked blood vessels, frequent and severe infections, etc. Since cancer raids the bone marrow, it can cause bone fractures and raise serum calcium levels. The complications may also arise due to intense treatment therapy sessions.

Timely diagnosis and treatment are necessary to combat the complications of blood cancer. Consult your oncologist for appropriate suggestions.

Prevention of Blood Cancer

Know all the primary prevention and secondary prevention below:

Primary Prevention

The following steps help in preventing the development of blood cancer:

• Avoid an unhealthy diet: Consumption of red meat consumption and junk food should be avoided.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol intake: Smoking and consumption of alcohol should be avoided.
• Screening: If you have a family history of cancer, kindly consult an oncologist and get a screening done.

Secondary Prevention

If you are recovering from the initial stages of blood cancer, the following steps would help prevent recurrence:

• Healthy living: Eat a healthy diet, do regular exercises, and maintain healthy body weight.
• Annual check-ups: Do regular follow-ups with your oncologist to keep a tab on the likely recurrence of cancer episodes.
• Take timely medications: If your doctor has prescribed medicines after the treatment, take them on time. If you are in remission, do not stop the medication without consulting your doctor.

Epidemiology of Blood Cancer

• India being the second most populated country in the world records nearly 8% of blood cancer cases every year. Around 20,000 new cases of childhood blood cancers are detected each year, and nearly 15,000 of these are leukemia cases.
• Blood cancer can affect everyone irrespective of age, gender, and geographical location.

Expected Prognosis of Blood Cancer

Blood is the major connective tissue in our body. The cancer cells in the blood can circulate to all the body tissues and organs. A person detected with blood cancer has a 70% chance of survival in the next five years. With timely diagnosis and treatment, the person can go into remission.

Natural Progression of Blood Cancer

The stem cells, in the bone marrow, rapidly divide themselves and thus any mutated stem cells will produce abnormal blood cells with altered functions. The cancer cells will lodge themselves in other parts of the body and impact overall well-being.

Pathophysiology of Blood Cancer

Blood cancer occurs due to the malignant transformation of the blood stem cells. The altered blood cells cannot carry out normal functions like oxygen transportation, fight-off infections, wound healing, etc. The altered metabolism help in their proliferation and tumor growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are The Best Hospitals for Blood Cancer Treatment in Mumbai?

Nanavati Max Hospital in Mumbai is considered one of the best hospitals for blood cancer treatment in the city, offering a range of advanced treatments and experienced specialists.

2. What are Some Treatment Options For Blood Cancer?

Blood cancer treatment strategies are tailored based on factors such as the type of cancer, its stage, the patient's age, and overall health.

• Chemotherapy is a popular method that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy makes use of high doses of radiation to eliminate cancerous cells.
• Targeted therapy aims to target specific abnormalities within cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy works by boosting the body's natural defences to fight cancer.
• Stem cell transplant replaces diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells.

Supportive care can help manage symptoms and side effects.

In many cases, a combination of these treatments proves most effective.

3. What are Some Side Effects Of Blood Cancer Treatment?

Every individual may experience different side effects based on the treatment type. Commonly observed side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, anaemia, and increased susceptibility to infections.

4. Can Blood Cancer Be Cured?

The prognosis for blood cancer varies. Some, like Hodgkin lymphoma, boast a high cure rate. In contrast, acute myeloid leukaemia might pose more challenges. However, with early detection and the right treatment, many patients lead a healthy life.

5. What is Stem Cell Transplant For Blood Cancer?

Stem cell transplant has emerged as a common treatment strategy, especially when the bone marrow stops producing healthy blood cells. There are two primary types:

Autologous: Uses the patient's own stem cells.

Allogeneic: Uses stem cells from a matched donor.

6. What is The Duration Of Blood Cancer Treatment?

Treatment length varies from person to person. Factors like cancer type and stage, as well as an individual's response to the treatment, dictate the duration of the treatment. Some might require a few months, while others undergo treatment for years. An experienced haematologist and bone marrow transplant specialist will always explain the treatment duration and prognosis in detail.