But when someone has cancer, these cells don’t follow the rules anymore. They keep dividing and making more cells when they’re not supposed to.
Now, with blood cancer, it’s like these rebel cells start causing trouble in your blood-making factory, which is called the bone marrow. Your bone marrow is like a little factory inside your bones where blood cells are made.
These blood cells are super important because they help fight off infections, carry oxygen around your body, and stop bleeding.
But in blood cancer, something goes wrong in this factory. The rebel cells start growing there, messing up the production line. They produce abnormal blood cells that don’t work properly.
So, instead of having good, healthy blood cells doing their job, you end up with cancerous cells.
This can lead to all sorts of problems because your body isn’t getting the right kind of blood cells it needs.
But the good news is, doctors have been getting better at treating blood cancer. With new treatments and therapies, more and more people can live longer and better lives, even with blood cancer.
The stages of blood cancer are divided based on metastasis. Corresponding to the symptoms and rate of metastasis, the different stages of blood cancer are determined.
The first stage includes the enlargement of the lymph nodes. This happens due to the sudden increase in the number of lymphocytes. The risk at this stage is very low since it has not spread to other parts of the body.
During the second stage, the spleen, liver, and lymph nodes get enlarged. One of the organs gets affected for sure and the growth of lymphocytes is very high at this stage.
In this stage, anemia develops, and more than two organs are affected.
This is the last stage of blood cancer with a high-risk ratio. The rate of blood platelets starts dropping rapidly. The affected cells start damaging the lungs and other organs which were already affected in the earlier stages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. Is blood cancer transmittable?
A. Cancer is a non-communicable disease that does not spread from one person to another. Certain cancers may have a hereditary cause which means a person is at higher risk of getting cancer if his/her family had specific cancer. These cancers are breast, ovarian, colorectal, and other common cancers.
Q2. Are blood cancers painful?
A. Blood cancers are usually painless, but they can ache for some people. If lumps or swellings exist deeper within your body and press on organs such as your lungs, you may experience pain, discomfort, or shortness of breath.
Q3. What happens if you have blood cancer?
A. Cancer cells can swell your lymph nodes, tonsils, liver, and spleen as they accumulate. You might notice lumps in your neck or armpits, or you might feel full after a small meal. You might be able to lose a lot of weight without even trying. Bone pain can be caused by cancer cells growing in your bone marrow.
Next in Blood Cancer
Author Bio:
Dr. Yashashree Joshi – MBBS, MD (Philippines)
Dr. Yashashree Joshi, MD, is a globally-trained oncologist with a robust academic background and extensive experience in pioneering cancer treatments. Dedicated to patient-centered care, she continually integrates the latest advancements in oncology to provide her patients with innovative and personalized treatment plans.
Content Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinically Review Board
