Blood Cancer Treatment

Blood cancer, also known as hematological malignancies, refers to a group of cancers that affect the production and function of blood cells and the bone marrow, which is responsible for producing blood cells. There are three main types of blood cancer:

1. Leukemia: Leukemia is a cancer that affects the white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infections. It occurs when abnormal white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy cells. There are four main types of leukemia: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

2. Lymphoma: Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. It occurs when abnormal lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) multiply uncontrollably. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

3. Multiple Myeloma: Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies. In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells.

The symptoms and treatment options for blood cancer can vary depending on the specific type and stage of the disease. Common symptoms of blood cancer may include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, bone pain, enlarged lymph nodes, and night sweats. However, it's important to note that these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, so a proper medical evaluation is necessary to determine the underlying cause.

Treatment for blood cancer may include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, stem cell transplantation, or a combination of these approaches. The choice of treatment depends on factors such as the type and stage of the cancer, overall health of the patient, and individualized treatment plans developed by healthcare professionals.

Blood cancer treatment is quite different from the usual "solid tumours" like head neck, breast or lung cancers & is even more challanging. Not every oncologist is trained to deal with blood cancers. In India only DM/DNB (Medical oncology) & DM/DNB (Hematology) super-specialty trained doctors can manage such challanging cases.