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Blood is made of various types of cells. These cells perform different functions. Blood has both cellular and non-cellular components. However, the majority of these come from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone. The cellular component of the blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The function of the red blood cell is to transport oxygen and nutrients, while the white blood cells help the body fight off infections. On the other hand, platelets help in the formation of blood clots, that prevents people from bleeding out, especially after injuries. The hematopoietic stem cells are capable of differentiating into any type of blood cells. Blood cancer occurs due to a problem in the differentiation of these cells. This can lead to the excess production of immature blood cells, which would not carry out their functions successfully. Blood cancer affects a lot of people. According to statistics, an individual is diagnosed every 14 minutes in the United Kingdom. Blood cancer can be divided into 3 parts. This includes;

  1. Leukemia
  2. Lymphoma
  3. Multiple myelomas

The prognosis of this conditions is better when diagnosed early. This is why it’s important to go for regular check-ups. These type of blood cancers would be explained in the course of this article.

What is Leukemia?

 

Leukemia is the cancer of the cellular components of the blood. This disease usually starts in the bone marrow and leads to the production of a high amount of abnormal white blood cells. The white blood cells are usually not matured and are incapable of fighting off infection. These types of cells are referred to as blast cells. Some of the symptoms of leukemia include prolonged bleeding, fatigue, fever, anemia, and an increased risk of being infected by diseases. These signs and symptoms are because of the abnormal cells that are being produced by the bone marrow. This disease can be diagnosed by carrying out blood tests or taking a sample of the bone marrow for biopsy. The main cause of leukemia is not known yet, however, it has been suggested that this disease might be caused by a combination of both genetics and environmental factors. Some of the risk factors for this disease are smoking, exposure to the high amount of radiation, chemicals, chemotherapy and congenital diseases such as down syndrome. It has been observed that people who have a relative that is affected by this disease have a higher chance of having leukemia. There are 4 main types of leukemia. These are acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia.

 

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What is Lymphoma?

 

This type of blood cancer is one that affects the lymphatic system. The role of the lymphatic system is to remove excess fluids from the body. It’s also responsible for the production of immune cells. In addition, the role of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, is to fight infection. However, abnormal types of lymphocytes are produced in lymphoma. These cells multiply and accumulate in the lymph nodes and tissues. They also have the ability to impair the immune system.

There are two types of lymphoma. These are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

  1. Hodgkin lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma is uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels and glands spread throughout your body. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more common than the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This blood disorder can affect people of any age group, however, it’s more prevalent among people between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the cells in the lymphatic system develop abnormally, and might also move from where they are to other parts of the body. Some of the symptoms of this disorder include fever, loss of weighing and night sweats. Also, the patient would experience an enlargement of the lymph nodes, especially in the neck, axilla, and the groin. The most common and prevalent cause of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the Epstein-Barr
  2. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be described as cancer that develops from the lymphoid system. They include all types of lymphoma except Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Some of the signs and symptoms of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include fever, night sweats, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Other symptoms that patients present are itchiness of the skin, chest pain, bone pain, and so on. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma could either be progressed rapidly or slowly. There are some factors that increase the risk of having this disease. Some of these factors are Epstein-Barr virus, overweight, and obesity, weakened the immune system, and hepatitis C.

What is Multiple Myeloma?

 

Multiple myelomas is the cancer of the plasma cells. These are a type of white blood cells that produce antibodies that fight against infections in the body. However, in persons affected by multiple myeloma, the plasma cells become cancerous and unable to perform their function. The disease often does not present with signs and symptoms initially, however, some symptoms are presented in the advanced stage of the disease. Some of the signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma include bone pain, recurrent infections, anemia, and bleeding might occur. It often gets complicated by amyloidosis. The exact cause of this disease is not known yet, however, there are some factors that increase the development of the disease. Some of the factors that could increase the chances of having multiple myeloma include family history, exposure to a large dosage of radiations for a long time, excess weight and obesity, alcohol consumption,and  exposure to certain chemicals.

Below are some of the 10 things to know about cancer

    • About 8.8 million people die from cancer every year
    • Over 70% of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
    • Lung, liver, stomach, colorectal and prostate cancer are the type of cancer that kills men the most
    • Breast, lung, colorectal, cervical and stomach cancer kills women the most.
    • Not smoking significantly reduces the risk of developing cancer.
    • Vaccination can be taken against infections that can lead to the development of cancer.
    • Low-income countries have a low access to the treatment of cancer.
    • Some people are more genetically predisposed to having cancer.
    • Exercise can help reduce the risk of developing some type of cancer.
    • Cancer can affect anyone, regardless of the age or race.

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References

      1. Hawley, R. (2012). The Cancer Stem Cell Conundrum in Multiple Myeloma. Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 02(05).

Giralt (2012). Stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: current and future status. Hematology

Maisnar, V., Radocha, J., Jebavy, L., Zak, P., Kmonicek, M. and Maly, J. (2009). A394 Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma: One Center Experience. Clinical Lymphoma and Myeloma, 9, pp.S63-S64.

u, J. and Li, Y. (2013). A new hope for patients suffering from multiple myeloma. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 4(6), p.144.