Learn about the symptoms, treatments, and management of the most common types of blood cancer.
Key takeaways:
- Blood cancer has three common forms
- Various medical procedures are available to treat these forms of the disease
- Early detection can make treatments more effective
Over 1.3 million Americans are living with active or in-remission blood cancers according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). These conditions are the third leading cause of cancer deaths and often begin in the bone marrow, where platelets and red and white blood cells are produced in spongy tissue.
Someone is diagnosed with some type of blood cancer every three minutes. This makes it even more vital to increase awareness of these conditions. Read our guide to understand the three most common blood cancer types and how medical professionals and patients can address this disease.
Types of blood cancer
Blood cancer occurs in three primary ways: leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Leukemia involves an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells which interfere with platelet and blood cell production. Lymphoma, which develops in the lymphatic system, can take two forms (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin). The causes of Hodgkin lymphoma are still unknown, but a family history of the disease is an acknowledged risk factor, as is a compromised immune system or the Epstein-Barr Virus in young adults.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is caused by DNA changes that may be rooted in exposure to chemicals (such as those found in cigarettes), chronic infections, or radiation. Age is also a risk factor, as are a compromised immune system or drugs that suppress the immune system.
Myeloma, sometimes called multiple myeloma, occurs through an excess of abnormal plasma cells that cause tumors in bone marrow and impede normal blood cell production. The exact cause of this blood cancer is also unknown, but risk factors include family history, obesity, and radiation exposure.
Common symptoms
The general symptoms of blood cancer include weakness and fatigue, chills or fever, weight loss, or bone and joint pain. Swelling in the liver, spleen, or lymph nodes may also occur. Specific leukemia symptoms include frequent infections and easy bleeding or bruising.
Lymphoma symptoms may also include loss of breath and appetite, night sweats, or enlarged lymph nodes. Some myeloma-specific symptoms are mental fog, constipation, and pain in the chest or spine.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s best to talk to your doctor as soon as possible, as early detection is often a key to successful treatment, potentially improving outcomes and quality of life for patients and their families. In fact, early detection is one of the main reasons that the U.S. cancer death rate has declined by 33% over the last thirty years.
Treatments
The different blood cancer types can be effectively treated in various ways. Patients may undergo one or more of the following processes:
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs may be given via IV, pills, or injection. Some chemotherapy is supplemented by corticosteroids, which mimic the body’s natural cortisol production.
- Radiation therapy
High-dosage, targeted radiation treatment may also be applied directly to the affected area(s).
- Stem cell transplant
This surgical procedure replaces cancerous stem cells with healthy new ones and is often performed after chemotherapy. These stem cells may come from your own body (an autograft/autologous transplant) or a donor (an allograft/allogeneic transplant).
- Immunotherapy
This procedure uses the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer. It’s a diverse set of treatments that involves stimulating the immune system in various ways, including through the introduction of monoclonal antibodies and/or cancer-suppressing vaccines. These treatments may also be combined with steroids and chemotherapy.
- Targeted therapy
Specialized drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are administered daily to attack specific genes and abnormal proteins that can cause cancer to grow. This may kill the cancer, shorten its lifespan, or block the growth and division of cancerous cells.
While immunotherapy is generally the least impactful in terms of side effects, all blood cancer treatments will take a toll. That’s why it’s important for patients to rely on friends, family, and/or cancer-support groups to help them navigate this challenging process.
Living with blood cancer
Coping with any type of blood cancer can be difficult. Two of the most powerful tools for maintaining positivity and making progress are education and symptom management. While medical procedures will be mapped out by your care team, there’s a lot that patients can do for themselves.
It’s vital not to self-isolate, but instead stay connected to friends, loved ones, and medical professionals. Open emotional expression and asking questions is far healthier when dealing with symptoms than closing off. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through a well-structured diet and appropriate exercise regimen can help keep your body in the best possible shape during cancer treatments and recovery.
Community support is another powerful tool for coping with blood cancer. September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, which provides a platform for wider public awareness, education, and access to support resources. The ribbon for the month is red, and the promotion of this color in various forms like lighting and clothing is encouraged, especially if you or a loved one have been affected by this disease. And use the hashtag #FightBloodCancer to help create and find useful social media posts.
There are many other support resources to help patients and families cope with the various stresses of blood cancer, including:
An essential cancer management strategy is considering how it will affect your finances. The more you can limit medical expenses, the less stressful the condition will be.
How ModRN Health can help
In addition to the anxiety brought on by a blood cancer diagnosis and treatments, many patients also find themselves worrying about how to pay for their medications. But the good news is that the financial stress of cancer-related prescription expenses can be reduced by joining ModRN Health – sometimes by as much as 90%.
Our handy search tool helps people find the most affordable versions of their brand name or generic medications at the pharmacies nearest to them. We also offer educational resources on a wide range of conditions, and a prescription management system with email and SMS reminders when a prescription needs to be refilled.
To find out how much you could save, just go online and sign up for a free account today.
