Blood Cancer

Table of Contents

• What is Blood?
• What is Blood Cancer?
• Types Of Blood Cancer
• Symptoms Of Blood Cancer
• Causes Of Blood Cancer
• Treatment For Blood Cancer

Blood is the fluid connective tissue which is mainly involved in the transportation of nutrients, hormones, respiratory gases, etc. Blood also plays a major role in the management of body temperature, pH, and other thermoregulation processes.

Human blood is composed of different cells, including erythrocytes (RBCs), leucocytes (WBCs) thrombocytes (blood platelets), and plasma that includes protein, salts, and water.

Blood Cancer is also called by the term hematologic cancer. This syndrome develops when the bone marrow and the blood cells get affected. Therefore, the production and function of these cells get impaired (fighting against infections and transport of oxygen) and the cancer cells grow out of control.

Read More: Blood 

• Leukaemia.
• Lymphoma.
• Myeloma.

Leukaemia: It is a type of blood cancer which affects the leukocytes, or white blood cells and bone marrow. This condition generally occurs when a body produces an excess of abnormal WBC. There are four main types of leukaemia, namely:

• Acute myeloid leukaemia
• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
• Chronic myeloid leukaemia
• Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Lymphoma: It directly affects the lymphatic system which acts as a shield against infectious diseases. It may affect blood cells, spleen and bone marrow. There are mainly two types.

• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Hodgkin lymphoma.

Myeloma: It is a tumour of plasma cells. They are white Blood cells (WBC) that generate diseases fighting antibodies. This cancer prevents the production of antibodies thus leading to the weakening of the immune system. Henceforth our body will be prone to infection and other diseases.

Also Read: Antibodies 

The symptoms of blood cancer both in men and women vary. Listed below are the generic symptoms of blood cancer.

• Fever
• A severe Headache
• Itchy skin
• Back Pain
• Fatigue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Sudden weight loss
• A cough that does not go away

Symptoms Of Blood Cancer in Women

• Facing difficulty in swallowing
• Frequent Infections
• Weakness
• Pelvic Pain
• Nipple Changes
• Wheezing
• Swollen Breasts
• Stomachache
• No Appetite

There is no certain reason for the cause of blood cancer. Some factors are related to age factor, hereditary, weakened immune system, infections, aids, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption,  exposure to chemotherapy, organ transplantation, usage of hair dies, some kind of petrochemicals and maternal-fetal transmission in rare cases.

Treatment of cancer depends on the type of cancer, age, severity and many other factors. Some of the common treatment is stated below:

• Radiation Therapy: Radiation is given to destroy cancer cells. They make use of high-energy X- rays. It also relieves pain. It is conducted before stem cell and bone marrow plantation.

• Stem Cell Transplantation: Stem cells are collected from the bone marrow, umbilical cord, and peripheral blood. They inculcate healthy blood-forming stem cells.
• Chemotherapy: It is a treatment that involves drugs that are mainly given to destroy the cancer cells.

This was a brief glimpse of blood cancer.  Learn more in detail about its types, symptoms, causes, treatments and other related topics at BYJU’S Biology.