Blood cancer: symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition

What is blood cancer?

Blood cancer, also known as haematological cancer, is cancer that affects the production and function of blood cells. This condition is caused by the growth of abnormal and uncontrolled blood cells called cancer cells.

Most blood cancers start in the bone marrow where blood is produced. In the bone marrow, blood is formed into four components, namely blood plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, each of which has a different function.

When abnormal cells or cancer cells form, the function of these blood becomes blocked, causing symptoms that can interfere or even death.

There are three most common types of blood cancer, namely:

1. Leukemia

Leukemia or cancer of the white blood cells are cancer cells found in the blood and bone marrow. This condition is caused by the production of too many abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal cells prevent white blood cells from fighting infection and damage the bone marrow's ability to produce red blood cells and platelets that the body needs.

2. Lymphoma

Lymphoma develops in lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that acts to fight infection. This type of cancer also affects the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow and other parts of the body.

Abnormal lymphocytes can interfere with your immune system. This will reduce the sufferer's body resistance to harmful factors from outside.

Lymphoma consists of various types, which are grouped into two main categories, namely Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

3. Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that starts in the blood plasma cells. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell made in the bone marrow and function to produce antibodies (or immunoglobulins), which help the body ward off disease and infection in your body.

When myeloma cancer cells form, your immune system can become weakened and susceptible to infection.

In addition to the three types of cancer above, there are various other types of blood cancer that are rare, such as myelofibrosis, polycythaemia vera (PV), or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

How common is this disease?

Blood cancer is a type of cancer that can be experienced by patients at any age. In fact, leukemia is a type of cancer that most often occurs in children.

Based on 2018 Globocan data, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is the most common blood cancer case in Indonesia, among other types of blood cancer. Meanwhile, among all types of cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma ranks seventh in the highest number of cancer cases in Indonesia, which reached 14,164 cases.

Then, followed by leukemia at number nine, multiple myeloma at number 20, and Hodgkin lymphoma at number 29. The highest mortality rate is occupied by leukemia among other types of hematological cancer, with the number of cases reaching 11,134 cases. This leukemia death rate ranks fifth among all other types of cancer.

Even though it looks terrible, you can prevent this disease by avoiding the risk factors for it. Please consult your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the symptoms of blood cancer?

Symptoms of blood cancer in adults or signs of blood cancer in children may vary depending on the type of cancer you are experiencing. However, some of the most common symptoms of blood cancer in adults and children include:

• Fever.
• Shivering.
• Continuous fatigue or feeling weak.
• Bone and joint pain.
• Loss of appetite or nausea.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Headache.
• Hard to breathe.
• Frequent or easy infections.
• Easy bruising and bleeding
• Itchy skin or a rash on the skin.
• Night sweats.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin.
• Symptoms of anemia.

There may be other signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, do not hesitate to consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

If you have any signs or symptoms listed above, especially if a parent or sibling has blood cancer, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Causes & risk factors

What causes blood cancer?

Blood cancer is caused by abnormal and uncontrolled growth of blood cells. Normally, the blood cells in the body follow a regular path of growth, division and death. However, blood cancer-causing cells do not die automatically. These cancer cells can spread to other areas, suppress normal blood cells and inhibit their function.

Scientists still don't know for sure what causes blood cancer. However, experts suspect that changes or mutations in DNA can make healthy cells become cancerous.

These DNA mutations can be genetically inherited or occur during a person's lifetime. In addition, several other factors can also increase a person's risk of developing this disease.

What increases the risk of getting this disease?

Hematological cancer can happen to anyone. However, experts believe, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing this disease. Understanding the risk factors can help you find the best solution to prevent this disease from developing.

In general, here are some factors that can cause blood cancer in a person:

• Male gender.
• Old age.
• Family history of the same disease.
• Exposure to radiation or certain chemicals, such as benzene.
• Certain conditions or diseases, such as autoimmune diseases or HIV / AIDS.
• Have had treatment for cancer, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
• Smoking habit.
• Certain viral infections, such as the Epstein-Barr virus.
• Being overweight or obese.

Having one or more of the risk factors above does not mean you will definitely develop this disease. Conversely, a person affected by this disease may have unknown risk factors. Consult a doctor if you are concerned about certain risk factors for yourself.

Diagnosis & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is blood cancer diagnosed?

To diagnose blood cancer, the doctor will ask you to answer several questions regarding your medical history.

Some of these questions include your overall condition, what symptoms or changes you have had, when they started, and the various risk factors you may have.

Then, the doctor will physically examine you to see if any other signs may be present, such as swelling in the lymph nodes. If you have these symptoms, you are not sure you have cancer. The reason is, this could be a sign of another infection.

However, if you are suspected of having blood cancer, you may need to undergo a series of tests to confirm it. The examination tests that every patient takes are not necessarily the same. This depends on your overall health condition as well as the type of cancer you may have. Talk to your doctor about the right type of test.

However, in general, here are some tests or examinations that generally need to be done to diagnose this disease:

• Blood test: For example a complete blood count test or complete blood count (CBC) or other blood tests, such as tests for blood protein, liver function, kidneys, or others.
• Bone marrow aspiration / test / biopsy: This is done by taking a sample of bone marrow cells to be examined in the laboratory. This test is to find out whether there are abnormal blood cells or not.
• Lymph node biopsy: Done by taking all or part of the lymph nodes for later examination in the laboratory. This test is also to find out whether there are abnormal blood cells or not.
• Imaging test: This test can be done with a chest ontgen, MRI, or PET scan, or CT scan. Tests are done to see the condition and function of the organs and bones in your body, to determine the spread of cancer cells.

In addition to the tests above, you may need to undergo a series of other tests, such as ultrasound, genetics, or other tests. Consult with your doctor about what types of tests you need to undergo according to your condition.

How to treat blood cancer?

Treatment for blood cancer depends on the type and spread of cancer cells, the patient's age and overall health, and the patient's response to treatment. Some of the common blood cancer treatments include:

• Transplant stem cells

Transplant stem cells done by implanting stem cells forming healthy blood into the body. Stem cell can be collected from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and cord blood.

• Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs, either through vein or oral injection, to disrupt and stop the growth of cancer cells in the body. Chemotherapy sometimes consists of giving several drugs simultaneously. In addition, chemotherapy can also be given before the transplant stem cells .

• Radiation therapy

This procedure is performed using high energy waves to kill cancer cells or to reduce symptoms. Radiation therapy is also possible before transplantation stem cells.

• Target therapy

Targeted therapy is a therapy that uses drugs that specifically kill cancer cells, without damaging normal cells.

In general, the treatment that will be carried out consists of a combination of several therapies. Several other treatments, such as surgical removal of lymph nodes, may also be needed.

Consult with your doctor for cancer treatment options and drugs that are right for you. Each treatment for this disease has different side effects. Consider the risk of taking cancer drugs with your condition.

Home care

What are some lifestyle changes or home treatments that can be done to treat this disease?

In addition to medical treatment, you will need to make lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help you treat blood cancer. Here are the ways:

• Stay active by exercising regularly.
• Discipline following a healthy lifestyle.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
• Get medication or take medication regularly as your doctor prescribes.
• Avoid stress, such as by doing hobbies, meditating, and seeking support from those closest to you, including people with the same disease condition.

Prevention

How to prevent blood cancer?

This disease can interfere with your daily life and can even be life threatening. Therefore, it is important to take cancer prevention, especially for those of you who are at high risk of developing this disease. Here's how to prevent blood cancer that you can do:

• Get regular exercise.
• Discipline in living a healthy lifestyle.
• Avoid exposure to chemicals, such as herbicides or insecticides.
• Avoid radiation exposure.
• Consume healthy and nutritionally balanced foods and drink lots of water.
• Always consult a doctor about any health problems you experience, including if you feel the symptoms of blood cancer in yourself.

If you have any questions, please consult a doctor to better understand and find the best solution for you.