Blood cancer directly affects the production and functioning of blood cells. The malignant process often begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow stem cells mature and develop, acquiring the characteristics of 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 cell development is disturbed due to the uncontrolled growth of pathological blood cells. These are cancer cells that interfere with the basic functions of the blood. In particular, mechanisms to protect against infections and prevent severe bleeding are disrupted.
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. With 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). An increase in their number causes the body's inability to fight infections, and also 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. Pathological 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 for 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 bone marrow and the lymphatic system.
There are many forms of this disease. Some of them 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 hematomas;
- frequent nosebleeds;
- the appearance of red dots on the skin (petechia);
- increased sweating, especially at night;
- bone pain
- fragility of bones.
Be sure to consult your physician if you are concerned about any of the above symptoms.
Signs of leukemia are often lacking in clarity and specificity. They are easily overlooked or attributed to a more common disease - for example, flu.
In rare cases, an analysis passed 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:
- Cancer treatment of a different kind. Leukemia can threaten patients who have undergone a full course of radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
- Genetic pathology. An increased risk of developing leukemia is accompanied by 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.
- Leukemia in a family history. Like many diseases, leukemia can be caused by a hereditary factor.
Nevertheless, not all people at risk are ill with leukemia. Conversely, potential cancer patients are often unaware that they are threatened with blood cancer. Symptoms in women are in many ways similar to signs of hormonal failure or infection.
Myeloma
Myeloma (including multiple) is an oncological disease 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 displace healthy cells. Instead of producing useful antibodies, cancerous tumors produce pathological proteins that subsequently cause kidney problems.
Myeloma does not require active treatment if the patient does not suffer from symptoms. If the corresponding signs appear, the doctor prescribes procedures and medicines that facilitate the manifestation of the symptoms of blood cancer of this variety.
In the early stages of the disease, symptoms of blood cancer in adults are generally absent. Later, the following conditions may occur:
- loss of appetite;
- fatigue;
- confusion or disorientation in time and space;
- bone pain, especially in the back or chest;
- nausea;
- constipation;
- frequent infections;
- weight loss;
- weakness or numbness of the 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 gender. Symptoms (signs) of blood cancer in women appear less often than in men.
- Negroid race. Representatives of the Negroid race have a twice as high risk of myeloma as European patients.
- The presence in the history of the diagnosis of "monoclonal gammopathy of unknown etiology." One percent of patients with this disease of plasma cells subsequently suffer from blood cancer.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system designed to fight disease.
The lymphatic system includes lymph nodes (lymph glands), spleen, thymus (goiter) gland and 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 first of all it is divided into two types:
- Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer, as well as on the wishes of the patient. Usually used radio and chemotherapy, biological therapy medications, as well as stem cell transplantation, which helps stop blood cancer. The causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease are determined individually.
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Previously, this ailment was called Hodgkin's disease. With cancer of this type, an abnormal growth of cells of the lymphatic system is diagnosed, which can spread beyond it. As the disease progresses, the body's ability to resist infections is disrupted.
Innovative methods for the diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma give patients with this diagnosis hope for a complete 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 inguinal region.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Heat or chills.
- Increased sweating at night (night tides).
- Unexplained weight loss (ten or more percent of body weight).
- Loss of appetite.
- Itching
- Hypersensitivity to alcohol or pain in the lymph nodes after drinking alcohol.
Risk factors
What can cause the development of blood cancer? Factors that increase the risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma include the following circumstances:
- Age. Cancer of this type is diagnosed in patients aged 15 to 30 years, as well as in those who have reached 55 years of age.
- Lymphoma in a family history. If a close relative is diagnosed with any type of lymphoma (both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin's), the patient is at risk, as he can inherit blood cancer. Symptoms in women are usually characterized by sufficient specificity and allow you to diagnose as soon as possible.
- Floor. In men, this disease is more common than in women.
- Epstein-Barr infection. Epstein-Barr virus diseases (such as infectious mononucleosis) increase your risk of developing Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Weakness of the immune system. The risk becomes higher if the patient is diagnosed with HIV / AIDS or if the patient undergoes an organ transplant requiring medication to suppress the immune response.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
With non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, tumors develop from lymphocytes - white blood cells.
This disease is much more common than Hodgkin's lymphoma. According to statistics, the most common subspecies of this blood cancer are diffuse large-cell B-cell lymphoma (DLCL) and follicular lymphoma.
According to subjective signs, it is not always possible to immediately determine this blood cancer. Symptoms in women, as in men, include the following:
- Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or inguinal region.
- Pain or inflammation in the abdomen.
- Chest pain, cough, or shortness of breath.
- Fatigue.
- Fever.
- Increased sweating at night (night tides).
- Weight loss.
Risk factors
Some circumstances can increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Among them:
- Taking medications that depress the immune system. Medicines of this type are used in organ transplantation.
- Diseases caused by certain viruses and bacteria. Viruses associated with the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma include HIV and Epstein-Barr infection. Among bacteria, Helicobacter pylori is considered especially dangerous, causing a stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
- Exposure to chemicals. Some substances, including those used to kill insect pests and weeds, rarely cause blood cancer. Symptoms in women tend to manifest faster than in men.
- Elderly age. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can occur at any age, but most often it is diagnosed in patients older than 60 years.
Scary numbers
In the US, a blood cancer diagnosis is made approximately every three minutes. Every ten minutes, one American dies from leukemia, myeloma, or lymphoma — that's about 152 people a day.
More than 310,000 U.S. residents are diagnosed with leukemia, nearly 731,000 are treating Hodgkin’s lymphoma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and 89,000 are struggling with myeloma. The prognosis is most favorable for representatives of the Caucasian race.