Orcee

Blood cancer

The malignancy which attacks the blood cell forming tissue (bone marrow) and lymphatic system is generally known as blood cancer.

Types of blood cancer: main form of blood cancer is leukemia. Others are multiple myeloma, lymphoma, etc.

1. Leukemia: The malignancy or cancer of blood forming tissue causing uncontrolled growth of numerous weak and abnormal white blood cells (leukocytes) is known as leukemia.

Leukemia starts in bone marrow. Bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue in the cavity of most of the bones and produces various types of blood cells such as white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), platelets etc. each of which has different function – white blood cells (WBC) protect our body from infection. Red blood cells (RBC) are for carrying oxygen to tissues of the body and platelets are for blood clotting.

Due to growth of numerous weak and abnormal white blood cells the production of normal blood cells like WBC, RBC and platelets comes down. Immune system of our body is disturbed due to drastic drop in the ability to fight infection. Lack of RBC can lead to anaemia, breathlessness and fatigue, lack of platelets creates problems with blood clotting. These numerous abnormal white blood cells overpower the bone marrow, flow into the blood stream and attack other parts of the body like lymph node, liver, spleen, spinal chord etc.

Leukemia is either chronic or acute. Acute type of leukemia develops quickly and gets worse quickly but chronic leukemia gets worse slowly.

Lymphocytic leukemia: When leukemia affects lymphoid cells then it is known as lymphocytic leukemia.

Myelogenous Leukemia: When myeloid cells are affected by leukemia then it is known as myelogenous leukemia.

2. Multiple myeloma: – when malignant plasma cells (which are a type of white blood cells in the bone marrow) produced in an uncontrolled fashion spread through the bone marrow then the disease is known as multiple myeloma.

3. Lymphoma: – It is a type of cancer of the lymphatic system. Due to some disorder when the cells in lymphatic node multiplying very rapidly become malignant then lymphoma develops.

Symptoms of blood cancer

i) Excessive sweating of body at night
ii) Frequent infections
iii) Swollen lymph joints
iv) Pain in bones, joints, tenderness in bones.
v) Excessive bruising
vi) Weakness, fatigue, malaise
vii) Weight loss
viii) Vomiting sensation
ix) Excessive bleeding in gums cuts.
x) Anaemia etc.

Author: Surya Narayan Bhattacharya

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