Blood cancer itself is not a single disease but an umbrella term for several types of cancers. As the word suggests, it means cancers relating to the blood, any cancer that affects the production and function of blood is classified as a blood cancer. Blood cells are produced in the hollow of our bones in a soft gel like tissue called bone marrow. The formation development and differentiation of blood cells happens here due to a process known as hematopoiesis.
Strictly speaking, there are two distinct types of blood cancers, depending on the type of blood cells affected by cancer:
Leukemia is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells due to which they cannot fight infections properly. This early production means crowding of the bone marrow, which impairs the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets. It is classified as two types based on the progression of cancer- acute and chronic. The severe type spreads very fast and requires immediate treatment. Leukemia is divided further depending on the cells affected, myeloid, or lymphoid. So leukemia is of four types by the different combinations possible.
Leukemia can occur in both adults and children, ALL followed by AML are the most common in children, whereas adults are more prone to AML and CML types.
Cancer in plasma cells is called myeloma. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell, which is responsible for producing antibodies in our body that help in the identification of infectious germs and foreign entities in the body. In myeloma, the plasma cells multiply and crowd the bone marrow, and that affects the blood cell production in the bone marrow. Myeloma can develop in any location where there is blood plasma, as it can occur at multiple places; it is also called multiple myeloma.
Myeloma cells continue to produce antibodies, too, only dysfunctional ones that can affect the functioning of the organs such as kidneys. The dysfunctional antibodies or proteins are called monoclonal proteins or M-proteins. Myeloma inhibits the body’s ability to fight infections causing frequent illness. Bone weakness or breaking of bones is also likely as the growing tumor erodes the bone structure.
Read risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for Leukemia & Myeloma here.
Cell division is a process fundamental to all life forms; it is essential for growth, and for replacing old and worn-out cells. Cancer is a condition where cells of a certain tissue start growing uncontrollably. The same happens in blood cancer too. Blood cancers, as is evident from the name, are the cancers of the blood cells.
Blood cells are of three main types- red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which carry out different functions. The blood cells, in most of the cases, the white blood cells start multiplying rapidly. The consequences of this are twofold:
The symptoms of blood cancer may often be ignored or overlooked. This is because they are nonspecific and can be usually explained by flu or other common illnesses. But one must consult a doctor if any of the symptoms persist, and early diagnosis of blood cancer is essential for recovery.
The symptoms of blood cancer are because of the imbalance in the volumes of different types of blood cells. The manifestation of these symptoms depends on the type of blood cancer, the stage of cancer in the person, the progression (acute or chronic), and even differs from person to person.
It is not possible to determine the exact reason why a person develops blood cancer. Research shows that certain factors could increase a person’s chance of developing this cancer. Risk factors are the identified characteristics that have higher probabilities of developing a cancer. There are many different types of blood cancers, while each has its own set of risk factors, there are a few common factors as well.
The most common and dangerous chemical which can cause blood cancer is benzene. Exposure to heavy factory smoke and chemicals, formaldehyde etc., can also lead to blood cancer. Air is the medium through which people are exposed to these chemicals and breathing intoxicated air makes the person more vulnerable to blood cancer. Certain drugs used in treating cancer, especially those of chemotherapy can increase a person’s risk of developing blood cancer too.
Blood cancer can also happen because of exposure to radiation. Radiation of certain wavelength can destroy the DNA and can cause cancer. Higher the dose of radiation, greater the risk of developing blood cancer. Exposure to radiation as a part of radiotherapy to cure cancers and to imaging tests can increase the risk of developing blood cancer. Also, exposure to radiation in the environment will have an impact in developing the disease. The most dangerous instance that has happened in this case was the atomic bomb blast in Japan. The exposure to heavy radiation in this region post the atomic blast has caused blood cancer in many people.
Inflammation is generally a normal physiological response of the body to any injury caused to tissue. The process starts when the damaged tissue release chemicals, that cause the cells to divide and grow which helps in rebuilding the tissue. This helps in speed recovery of the injury. The inflammatory procedure ends when the injury is healed. Infections that do subside cause chronic inflammations. Abnormal immune reactions to normal tissues or obesity can also lead to inflammations.
Chronic inflammation can cause DNA damage and lead to cancer. It is important to determine why and where the inflammation has occurred and which type of inflammation it is. This information contributes to the detection and diagnosis of blood cancer. The contribution of the inflammation and its causes to physiological process (such as wound healing) also plays a vital role in detecting cancer.
There are some symptoms which are inherited syndromes. These syndromes directly impact higher possibilities of developing cancer. They include Fanconi anemia, Bloom syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia, down syndrome and a few more.
Fanconi anemia is an inherited disease which leads to bone marrow failure. FA restricts the bone marrow from making new blood cells for the normal functioning of the body. It also causes the bone marrow to make faulty blood cells and can lead to blood cancer.
Bloom syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder characterized by small dilated blood vessels over the nose and cheeks, and deficiencies which cause many types of blood cancers.
People, especially children with Down syndrome have a higher risk of inheriting blood cancer. Here, patients having abnormalities that affect the production of blood cells. They then develop blood cancer because of these abnormalities. These people have an extra section of DNA known as chromosome 21 and hence an extra copy of Erg Gene.
AT is a very rare inherited disease which generally affects the nervous system and the circulatory system. Mutations in specific areas of the DNA cause AT due to an alteration in a specific gene known as ATM. The condition occurs when a person inherits two non-working copies of a gene. A person who inherits only one non-working gene copy is a carrier. This gene is an ability to produce enzymes, which can restrict cell growth and promote cell death.
This is one of the most crucial risk factors for blood cancer. The wide belief is that smoking causes lung or mouth cancer only, but it is one of the major contributors for blood cancer too. The tobacco can severely damage or change the DNA of blood cells which leads abnormal growth and malfunctioning of the cell causing blood cancer. It can also reduces the body’s immunity, making the body more prone to attacks. Continuing to smoke in spite of having cancer leads to an enormous growth in the cancerous cells.
Today, more than 50% of the world’s population do not follow a nutritious diet, a few foods, however, increase the risk of cancer. They are as follows:
Stage refers to the extent of cancer. For anyone diagnosed with cancer, making an educated treatment decision is significant and it begins by identifying the stage or progression of blood cancer. One of the most important factors, however, that help you to identify the correct treatment option is to be sure of the stage of blood cancer. Most of the cancers are staged based on their size and spread of tumors. But unlike other cancers, blood cancer occurs within the bone marrow, within the developing blood cells and this makes it a unique case, where staging occurs differently. The stages of leukemia are hence categorized by the blood cell counts and accumulation of these cells within other organs like liver, spleen etc. To analyze and determine these stages, doctors often order X-Rays, lab tests, and other screening procedures for diagnosis of blood cancer.
Staging is crucial factor to decide the course of treatment of cancer. Usually blood cancers are staged on the basis of size of tumour and its spreading, but that approach does not work for leukemias as these are the cancers in the bone marrow and formation of cancerous tumour is rare for these. Different leukemias have different staging systems too. CLL has two staging systems- Rai and Binet, the former being more common in the US and the latter preferred in Europe.
This system divides the cancer into five stages and three factors determine the stage of CLL- whether or not the lymph nodes, spleen etc are enlarged, the total number of lymphocytes in the blood and if anemia or other disorder is present. The stages are Rai Stage 0 to Rai Stage IV.
This system differs from the one above as it takes into account how many types of lymphoid tissues are affected. The stages are commonly called clinical stages:
Stage A is marked by less than 3 organs affected by CLL, Stage B more than three organs affected and Stage C is marked by presence of anemia and/or thrombocytopenia. Read more about Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
There are two major conventions of staging myeloma and both of them give three stages of the disease but take different factors into consideration. They are:
International Staging System: In this, the stages are marked by the levels of albumin and microglobulin in the blood. This system is based on more than 10,000 cancer cases.
Durie-Salmon Staging: This system marks the stages depending on several factors- level of cancerous cells, damaged caused to the bone, levels of M protein, calcium levels in the blood, albumin and hemoglobin levels. Also, there is further classification based on whether or not there is kidney damage (Group A indicating normal kidney function, B indicating abnormality, for example: Stage IA)
There are several classification based on several factors- the stage of myeloma, the symptoms shown by the patient, the presence of symptoms itself, etc. Here are a few to indicate the terminology surrounding the types of myeloma.
As the name suggests, in asymptomatic, the patient shows no symptoms in terms of damaging the body. The cancer can be stable at this stage or advance further into symptomatic myeloma. Asymptomatic is also called smoldering or indolent myeloma. Symptomatic myeloma is active and shows significant damage to the organs
Another type of classification, based on the chromosome number in the myeloma cells. Hyperdiploid indicates that myeloma cells have more chromosomes than normal and there are less chromosomes in hypodiploid myeloma when compared to normal. Hyperdiploid is less aggressive than hypodiploid.
Read more about Multiple Myeloma
Blood cancer is a disorder that affects the blood and the bone marrow. In majority of the cases, the development of red blood cells is restricted while in cancer there is an uncontrolled division of cells, These cancer cells interrupt the functioning of the normal cells and the cells cannot defend against foreign bodies or form a clot to stop bleeding. Immediately after the patient recognizes the symptoms, an attempt for earlier diagnosis needs to be made. Depending upon the different stages of blood cancer, age and tolerance levels of the patient towards the treatment and side effects, the oncologist has to decide the treatment.
A few most common symptoms that can be observed easily are:
If any of these symptoms are observed, consulting a doctor immediately is advised.
The doctor may then examine your health condition for a few days and then suggest tests to determine if it’s cancer or not.
The most common tests used to diagnose blood cancer are:
This blood test measures the concentration of various types of blood cells-red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet cell count, in the given sample. Any abnormalities in the blood cells or their concentration can be determined using this test. Bone marrow biopsy may help in confirming this diagnosis.
1. White blood cells: These cells protect the body from dangerous foreign bodies, virus and infections, that could harm the body. Higher or lower white blood cell count than the normal value may imply that the person has blood cancer.
2. Red blood cells: These cells carry oxygen throughout the body and decrease in the count of RBCs or the content of hemoglobin (the red pigment in RBC) is called anemia. This can happen not just in case of blood cancer though, some anticancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause a decrease in the red blood cell count. Post blood loss during any surgery or treatment is generally followed by blood transfusion.
3. Platelets: Platelets help in blood clotting. Blood cancer or other cancers that have spread to the bone marrow lead to a decrease in the platelet count. Anticancer treatments can also lead to a decrease in the concentration of the platelets. In case of severe loss of platelets, platelet transfusion may be required.
Removal of bone marrow sample for testing is called bone marrow biopsy or aspiration, the difference being the follows:
It is used to determine if the cancer is affecting the bone marrow, the type of blood cancer, the stage or severity of the disease. Changes in blood cells that are not detected in complete blood count can be detected using this test.
Both the tests are performed at the same time under medical surveillance. The main purpose of this test is to confirm blood cancers and bone marrow disorders, detect any DNA abnormalities in the sample. Post anticancer treatments, this is used to check the progress of the treatment and evaluate the patient’s tolerance.
Blood cancer affects the blood cells which in turn means that the immune system completely gets affected. The lymphatic system is responsible for the human immunity. It includes tonsils, spleen and lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are present in hundreds in the body which contain white blood cells to fight infections.
In lymph node biopsy, a small cut is made and the node is taken, and the cut is closed by stitches. This gives information about the blood cancer, its type, stage and spreading.
It is also referred as lumbar puncture. A fine needle is inserted in the space between between the bones in the lower back and cerebrospinal fluid is extracted from the spine. This fluid is examined under a microscope to see if the blood cancer has spread to the spinal cord.
This test determines the blood and bone marrow cells to analyze a change in the white blood cell count that could cause cancer. An instrument known as flow cytometer is used to measure the number and percentage of cells and their characteristics. This test also helps to detect the residual levels of cancer post treatment. The results are also useful for measuring the amount of DNA in the blood cells.
This test maps the 46 human chromosomes of a cell to determine the changes in the chromosomes and their arrangement. G-banding is the method used for this test. A stain called Giemsa is used to make the banding pattern of chromosome pairs easier to see. This test looks for abnormalities in the size, shape, number and arrangement of the blood cells or bone marrow cells. This test can help the doctor prescribe the medications and plan the treatment.
The treatment for blood cancer depends on the type and stage of cancer, age of the patient, the organs involved by cancer, tolerance of the patient among other factors.
The most important treatments for curing blood cancer are:
Chemotherapy for blood cancer is a form of chemical drug therapy that aims to destroy the rapidly growing cells in the body. It is one of the most reliable treatments to cure blood cancer.
In this method, the drugs are injected into the veins or the larger muscle. Depending on the stage of the treatment, they are orally taken and are also given under the skin. These drugs travel along the bloodstream to reach the cancer cells. They then restrict the cells from spreading the cancer further in the body. This treatment becomes one of the most effective one because these drugs attack the cancer cells that are dividing quickly. Chemo is given in stages. After every stage of treatment, the patient is given a period of rest under medication. This is so that the patient can handle the side effects of the treatment.
Heart, liver, brain, kidneys, testicles and ovaries are affected directly because of this treatment. Common side effects include:
The oncologist should take care of the tolerance levels of the person before proceeding with the treatment. There should be strict medical invigilance during the treatment. In case of any side effects, relevant medication has to be given. Treatment has to be reduced or terminated if any severe adverse effects are encountered. The side effects are generally short-termed and precise medication is prescribed post treatment.
Radiation therapy or Radiotherapy for blood cancer uses high energy radiation to kill the cancer cells. The therapy works by damaging the DNA in the cells, which restricts their growth and reproduction.
There are two types of radiation therapies:
In external beam radiation, a focused beam of radiation is delivered externally by a machine called linear accelerator or linac. The linac moves around the body in various angles to deliver the radiation. These accelerators benefit targeted radiation which lessens the scatter of radiation to non-cancerous tissues. Skin reactions can be avoided or reduced using these. During the treatment, the patient is expected to stay in a single position and not move. No pain will be caused during the treatment. Shields are used to protect the sensitive parts of the body to protect them from the radiation.
The side effects generally depend on the intensity of radiation, tolerance of the patient and the area to which the radiation is given.
The common effects include
The dose of radiation is prescribed by a radiation oncologist. It depends on the age and medical history of the patient. Patient’s tolerance level is also an important factor for deciding the dosage of the treatment.
Before the radiation is given, the patients undergo simulation, where the technician determines the most effective way to direct radiation and also the angles in which it has to be directed. Radiation is given to the patients in fractions, over a several weeks to reduce its side effects.
Post treatment, the patients have to take a nutritious diet which can help them cope up with the side effects and help in building healthy tissues. Maintenance of body weight, energy and regular exercises also contribute to the benefits of the patient’s health.
Stem cells are the cells of the bone marrow, these develop further to form different types of blood cells. When the blood cells are critically affected and the functioning of the body declines, the body needs more than getting rid of cancerous cells. So in addition to treatments aimed at destroying cancer, stem cell or bone marrow transplantation may be needed.
Before a stem cell transplant, the patient is given a conditioning regime. This treatment involves the elimination of cancer cells in the body, for which the patient undergoes high levels of chemotherapy and in very few cases, radiotherapy as well under strict monitoring. This prepares the body for stem cell transplantation.
The stem cells are injected through the veins.These cells travel across the blood and reach the bone marrow to make new blood cells. This procedure is referred as engraftment.
The stem cell transplant procedure would generally take an hour.
Common side effects include
Post transplantation, the patient’s blood count is monitored regularly. In some cases, the patient might require blood cells and platelet transfusion. Special and additional drugs are given in order to prevent infections and other issues in case the stem cells are extracted from donors.
These therapies particularly target the specific molecules that help the cancer to grow and spread across the body. The main principle is to target the genes, proteins and supporting blood vessels. This treatment is used alone or as a combination with chemotherapy. Depending on the type of blood cancer and the characteristics of the cancer cells, the following are the major options
The generalised side effects of the blood targeted therapies are:
Recurrence of blood cancer typical means a comeback of the already existing cancer cells post-treatment of a patient. The period after which such a recurrence can happen is indefinite. If one has been exposed to cancer cells once it may mean it can happen again, within days, weeks, months, or maybe years later.
Leukemia recurs in two cases:
However, the majority of relapses occur within 2 years of initial treatment.
A formal follow up plan is given to any patient who has undergone cancer treatment. This plan includes a schedule for visits to the doctor, careful physical examinations, and possibly other tests. These visits and tests are essential to make sure you are healthy and to watch for a recurrence.
If cancer recurrence or remission does not happen in the treatments, a patient has two options. Since continuing the existing treatment may rarely have a positive effect.
A palliative approach can be adopted, where drugs are administered in non-toxic doses to keep the disease under control for as long as possible. The emphasis is on the quality of life and supportive care measures in such a case.
Another approach is to receive more intensive treatment in an attempt to produce a complete remission.
There are two intensive strategies for the same:
Bone marrow contains many leukemia cells, which makes autologous stem transplantation or high dose chemotherapy a rare option to patients who fail remission induction therapy; however, allogeneic stem cell transplant might work.
The patients with complete remission need autologous stem transplantation or high dose chemotherapy in most cases. However, this can only happen if the survivor has opted to store their stem cell collected at the initial remission. Stem cell collection after relapse is less successful since less than half of patients receiving reinduction chemotherapy achieve a second remission. Patients without previously stored stem cells, therefore, are often treated with allogeneic stem cell transplant or additional chemotherapy.
In these settings, allogeneic stem cell transplantation offers the only prospect of long-term disease-free survival. If a compatible family member donor or autologous stem cells are not available, there should be a search for an unrelated donor or an umbilical cord source of stem cells.
Clinical trials are research studies where people are involved in the test of the effectiveness of treatment. Through these, doctors find new ways to improve treatments and the quality of life for people with the disease.
Clinical trials are the final step in a long process of evolution of a certain kind of treatment which starts with lab research. However, few things need good thought before entering into any of such trials, like:
Participating in clinical trials is crucial in the development of existing cancer treatments. All the types of treatment available today were clinical trials in the past. Participating in them may not only increase the chances of one’s remission but also the evolution of a new treatment.
A recurrence causes anguish, and distress one has gone through in the initial stages of cancer. Self-doubt and fatigue is a prevalent emotion in many patients with recurrence. It is good to observe negative emotions when the fight one has put up proves to be not enough.
However, the patient should be able to convert them into positivity. The fact that they have already dealt with a similar situation and didn’t lose should be their main strength. Counseling is vital to the patient at this stage. The patient needs much support. Family plays a crucial part in addition to the doctor giving assurance that the patient can cope with the disease.
A few treatment centers provide survivorship or follow up cancer care clinics. These clinics provide a complete and distinct approach to monitoring and supporting cancer survivors. They make sure that the patient’s follow-up care plan is regular. They keep track of the patient’s visits to the doctor and their overall health.