| What is blood cancer? |
Blood cancer, also known as hematologic cancer, is a type of cancer that affects the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. Here's a simple explanation:
In our bodies, blood is made up of different types of cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are produced in the bone marrow—a spongy tissue inside our bones. These cells have important roles in carrying oxygen, fighting infections, and helping blood clot.
Blood cancer occurs when there is a problem with the production or function of these blood cells. This can happen when abnormal cells start to grow out of control, crowding out the normal cells. As a result, the body may not have enough healthy blood cells to function properly.
There are several types of blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Leukemia affects the white blood cells and bone marrow, while lymphoma affects the lymphatic system, which helps fight infections. Multiple myeloma affects plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies.
Symptoms of blood cancer can vary depending on the type and stage of the disease but may include fatigue, weakness, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, swollen lymph nodes, and bone pain.
Treatment for blood cancer may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, stem cell transplantation, or a combination of these approaches. Early detection and treatment are important for improving outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by blood cancer.
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When people say “blood cancer”, they usually mean cancers that start in the cells that make your blood, not in a solid organ like the lung or breast. Your blood cells are made inside the bone marrow, and in blood cancer some of these cells start growing in a disorganised way and don’t mature properly. Over time they can crowd out normal cells, so you may get very tired, pick up infections easily, bruise more, or see changes in blood tests. Names you might hear include leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, which are all different types of blood cancer with their own patterns and treatments. It sounds scary, but there are many treatment options now, and a lot depends on the exact type and stage, not just the label “blood cancer.”
@dhruvs If blood tests look abnormal, does that always mean blood cancer, or can common issues cause similar changes?
Not always. A lot of common things can nudge blood tests off for a while, like a recent infection, low iron, low B12 or folate, dehydration, inflammation, or even some medicines. That’s why doctors usually look at the pattern (which part is off), check how you’re feeling, and often repeat the test to see if it normalises. If the changes are mild and you feel okay, it often turns out to be something fixable. If counts are very abnormal or you also have symptoms like repeated fevers, unusual bruising, big tiredness, night sweats, or weight loss, that’s a good reason to follow up sooner.
