Blood cancer affects the production and functioning of blood cells in the body. It starts in the bone marrow, where the blood is produced. In most cases of blood cancers, an uncontrolled growth of abnormal type of blood cells interferes with the process of development of normal blood cells. It is the abnormal blood cells that weaken the immunity of the body and prevent it from functioning properly. Blood cancer affects a large number of people, but advancements in medical industry have enabled health practitioners in curing patients and getting a hold over the disease in its nascent stage. Let’s look at the types and symptoms of blood cancer, and their blood cancer treatment in India.

Types

Leukemia

A type of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow. Rapid production of abnormal white blood cells impairs the ability of bone marrow to counter the attack. As a result, the bone marrow is not able to produce red blood cells and platelets.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system of the body. The lymphatic system is responsible for removing excess fluids from body and producing immune cells. The growth of cancerous cells impairs the immunity of the body.

Myeloma

Myeloma is the cancer of plasma cells that produce antibodies in the body to fight infections and diseases. The abnormal cell growth weakens the immune system and make the body susceptible to infections.

Symptoms

• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness, fatigue
• Night sweats
• Abdominal discomfort
• Fever, chills
• Shortness of breath
• Bone/joint pain
• Frequent infections
• Swollen underarms, groin
• Skin rash

Treatment

The primary objective of blood cancer treatment is to eradicate the disease. Doctors decide the treatment based on the type of cancer, progression rate of the disease, age of patient, and several other factors. Some of the procedures performed for blood cancer treatment in India include:

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of anticancer drugs. These interfere and stop the growth of cancer cells in the body.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is used to destroy cancer cells. It can be given before a stem cell transplant.

Stem Cell Transplantation

Stem cell transplant involves infusion of healthy blood-forming stem cells in the body. These cells are collected from umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood.

In some cases, doctors might perform low-dose chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells and stop their growth. These days some biological therapies are also performed to encourage the immune system to fight cancerous cells. Besides drugs and therapies, a cancer patient must have ample courage and mental strength to defeat the deadly disease.