Introduction
Blood cancer affects the lives of a considerable number of people; every day, almost 100 people in the UK are told they have blood cancer. Also known as Hematologic cancer, Blood cancer is formed in the bone marrow where blood is made. The main reason for blood cancer to occur is when immature blood cells grow and stop the functioning of normal blood cells. Your blood cells keep you healthy, produce and divide into new blood cells, and prevent infections.
It is essential to understand the disease and take proper treatment from a blood cancer specialist to improve the chances of beating it.
Types of Blood Cancer
Mainly, blood cancers are categorized into three types; Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Multiple Myeloma.
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer, which affects the white blood cells in a way that they are often developed as immature. It results in compromising the ability of the immune system to prevent infections and the strength of bone marrow from making red blood cells and platelets. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common form of childhood leukemia, while acute myelogenous leukemia is the second most common type of adult leukemia.
Lymphoma affects a vital part of your immune system, lymphatic system, that produces white blood cells in your body. It can also develop in other parts of your body, such as the lymph nodes, bone marrow, blood, and spleen. Based on their treatment, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the two main types of Lymphomas.
The type of blood cancer that begins in and affects the plasma cells in Multiple Myeloma. The cells are present in the bone marrow and are responsible for the average production of antibodies, which is essential to prevent infections.
Symptoms of Blood Cancer
Blood cancer indicates that there isn’t the right balance of different types of blood cells in your body. Some common symptoms include:
- Fever, headaches
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Pale skin
- Bone/joint pain
- Abdominal discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Frequent infections
- Itchy skin
- Swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, underarms or groin
- Increased Bleeding or occurrence of red spots
If you experience these symptoms, talk to a blood cancer specialist and get treatment for blood cancer immediately.
Treatment of Blood Cancer
- Depending on the type and stage of blood cancer, different treatment options are advised.
- Chemotherapy involves using drugs that aim at killing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in the body. It can lead to side effects such as nausea, hair loss, and tiredness.
- Biological therapy helps to target the cancer cells and encourage the immune system to act against the cells.
- Radiation therapy involves using high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells in a particular area and is recommended for adults.
- Stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant helps to replace the immature cells in the bone marrow with new blood stem cells through a drip.
Conclusion
It is difficult for a patient of blood cancer to cope with the changes in the body happening always. Hair loss, weakness, fevers, headaches, chest and bone pain, etc. are the changes that not only affect the person physically but mentally too. The patient’s perspective towards the disease makes a vast difference in treating it. Incorporate different activities along with your treatments to soothe your minds. Yoga must be included in your routine, which will help in getting rid of toxin and boosting overall immunity. Acupuncture and massage therapy must be practiced, which will help in relieving pain, nausea, depression, fatigue, and anxiety. On the other hand, support from family, friends, and relatives is of great help to patients.
