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Blood Cancer

Blood cancer occurs when abnormal blood cells start growing uncontrollably and interfere with normal blood and bone marrow function, and includes three main types: leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, easy bruising or bleeding, and frequent infections. Risk factors include age, gender, and family history. Diagnosis involves blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, and imaging tests. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplants.

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37 views2 pages

Blood Cancer

Blood cancer occurs when abnormal blood cells start growing uncontrollably and interfere with normal blood and bone marrow function, and includes three main types: leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, easy bruising or bleeding, and frequent infections. Risk factors include age, gender, and family history. Diagnosis involves blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, and imaging tests. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplants.

Uploaded by

rajanbadgujar.hess
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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# Blood Cancer

## Overview

Blood cancer, also known as hematologic cancer, occurs when abnormal blood cells
start growing uncontrollably and interfere with the normal function of the blood
and bone marrow. There are three main types of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma,
and myeloma.

## Types of Blood Cancer

### Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. It is
characterized by the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells.

- **Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL):** This type of leukemia progresses rapidly,


affecting immature white blood cells.
- **Acute myeloid leukemia (AML):** AML is characterized by the rapid growth of
abnormal white blood cells that accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with
the production of normal blood cells.

### Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part
of the body's immune system.

- **Hodgkin lymphoma:** This type of lymphoma is characterized by the presence of


Reed-Sternberg cells in the lymph nodes.
- **Non-Hodgkin lymphoma:** This is a diverse group of blood cancers that includes
all types of lymphoma except Hodgkin lymphoma.

### Myeloma

Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells, which are a type of
white blood cell that produces antibodies.

## Symptoms

- **Fatigue:** Feeling tired and weak is a common symptom of blood cancer.


- **Fever:** Persistent or recurrent fevers may be a sign of blood cancer.
- **Easy bruising or bleeding:** This includes frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums,
and petechiae (small red or purple spots on the skin).
- **Frequent infections:** Blood cancer can weaken the immune system, making it
harder for the body to fight off infections.

## Risk Factors

- **Age:** The risk of blood cancer increases with age.


- **Gender:** Some types of blood cancer, such as multiple myeloma, are more common
in men than in women.
- **Family history:** Having a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, with
blood cancer may increase your risk.

## Diagnosis

- **Blood tests:** These can help detect abnormalities in the blood, such as
abnormal white blood cell counts or the presence of abnormal proteins.
- **Bone marrow biopsy:** A sample of bone marrow is removed and examined under a
microscope to look for cancer cells.
- **Imaging tests:** These may include X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, or PET scans to
help determine the extent of the cancer.

## Treatment

- **Chemotherapy:** This uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.
- **Radiation therapy:** This uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.
- **Immunotherapy:** This uses the body's immune system to help fight cancer.
- **Bone marrow transplant:** This involves replacing damaged or diseased bone
marrow with healthy bone marrow from a donor.

## Outlook

The outlook for blood cancer depends on many factors, including the type and stage
of the cancer, as well as the person's age and overall health. Treatment for blood
cancer can include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow
transplant. In some cases, a combination of treatments may be used. Early detection
and treatment can improve the outlook for people with blood cancer.

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