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Blood Cancer Awareness Month is observed every year in the month of September. The month aims to raise awareness about blood cancer. Blood cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer across the globe. Nearly 1.24 million blood cancer cases are reported annually worldwide, according to reports. This is nearly 6% of all cancer cases. Blood cancer also causes 7, 20,000 deaths every year globally, which is more than 7% of cancer deaths. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness about blood cancer.
Blood cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the bone marrow. Yale Medicine says that in a healthy body, new white blood cells are regularly generated to replace old, dying ones. “The excessive production of white blood cells in the bone marrow leads to blood cancers.”
When you have blood cancer, the abnormal blood cells tend to overburden the normal blood cells, thereby, causing several health conditions.
Symptoms of Blood Cancer
Here, take a look at some of the common symptoms of blood cancer, according to Blood Cancer UK.
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
- Lumps or swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Night Sweats
- Persistent, recurrent or severe infections
- Unexplained and recurrent fever
- Rash or itchy skin
- Pain in your bones, joints or abdomen
- Fatigue
- Paleness.
Risks of Blood Cancer
Yale Medicine says that the risks of blood cancer are not fully understood, though it is believed that blood cancers develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Smoking, exposure to radiation and certain chemicals; increase your risk of certain types of blood cancers.
Causes of Blood Cancer
Here, take a look at some of the common causes of blood cancer.
- Age
- Sex
- Ethnicity
- Family history
- Radiation or chemical exposure
- Other health conditions and treatments.
Types of Blood Cancer
- Leukaemia: This is the most common form of blood cancer in the United States and the most common form of cancer among children and teenagers. The five-year survival rate has quadrupled over the past 40 years.
- Lymphoma: This is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which includes the bone marrow. The lymphoma survival rate has doubled over the past 40 years.
- Myeloma: This is a form of cancer that begins in your bone marrow and affects your plasma cells. Multiple myeloma is the most common myeloma type. More than half of people diagnosed with myeloma are alive five years after diagnosis.
The above three types of blood cancers have been divided into different sub-categories.
- There are four types of blood cancers under Leukaemia: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Acute myeloid leukaemia, Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and Chronic myelogenous leukaemia.
- There are six types of blood cancers under Lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, Follicular lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma and Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
- Lastly, there are three types of blood cancers under Myeloma: Multiple myeloma, Plasmacytoma and Amyloidosis.