Blood cancer is scary but many people dont exactly know what it is or what symptons to look for. Blood cancer affect your blood or bone marrow or lymph system. Its very important to know symptoms so you can get help early. This article explain common symptoms of blood cancer and what to do.
What Is Blood Cancer?
Blood cancer also called hematologic cancer. It affect blood cells, bone marrow and lymph nodes. There are many types like leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. These cancer make abnormal blood cells that grow fast and crowd healthy cells.
Normally blood cells grow in control way but in blood cancer they grow abnormal and cause many problems like less immunity, anemia and bleeding.
Common Symptoms Of Blood Cancer
Symptoms can be different for different people but some are common:
Fatigue or Tiredness
Feeling very tired all the time even if you sleep enough. This happen cause cancer affect red blood cells that carry oxygen.
Infections Often
Blood cancer weakens immune system so you get infections again and again or takes long time to heal.
Bruising or Bleeding Easy
If you get bruise without any injury or bleeding from gums or nose often, this can be sign. Platelets help blood clot but blood cancer lower platelets.
Fever or Night Sweats
If you get fever without infection or sweat lot in night can be symptom.
Weight Loss
Sudden weight loss without try is warning.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Painless swelling of lymph nodes in neck, armpits or groin is sign of lymphoma.
Bone or Joint Pain
Pain in bones or joints sometimes happen because cancer affect bone marrow.
Shortness Of Breath
Low red blood cells cause breathless even doing small work.
Pale Skin
Because of less red blood cells skin look pale.
Why Symptoms Happen?
Blood cancer make abnormal blood cells that crowd healthy cells and body stop working good.
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Less red cells cause tired and breathless
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Less white cells cause infections
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Less platelets cause bleeding and bruises
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Cancer cells swell lymph nodes and cause pain
Types of Blood Cancer and Their Symptoms
Different blood cancers have different symptons:
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Leukemia: cause tired, infections, bleeding, fever, bone pain
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Lymphoma: swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweat, weight loss
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Myeloma: bone pain, fractures, anemia, infections
When To See Doctor?
If symptons last more than few weeks or get worse, see doctor. Especially if
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Fatigue dont improve with rest
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Infections often
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Bruising or bleeding without injury
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Swollen lymph nodes dont go away
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Bone pain or weakness
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Weight loss sudden
Early diagnosis is better for treatment.
How Doctor Diagnosed?
Doctor do blood test to check counts and abnormal cells. Sometimes bone marrow biopsy needed. Imaging like CT scan done to check lymph nodes or bones.
Can Blood Cancer Be Prevented?
No sure way but reduce risk by
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Avoid radiation or chemicals
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Dont smoke
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Eat healthy and exercise
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Regular checkups if family history
Treatment
Depends on type and stage but common are
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Chemotherapy
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Radiation therapy
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Bone marrow transplant
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Targeted therapy or immunotherapy
Conclusion
Blood cancer symptoms can be confuse with other illness but dont ignore fatigue, infections, bruising, swollen lymph nodes and bone pain. See doctor early for better chance.