13 blood cancer symptoms you shouldn't ignore

What is blood cancer

This is the common name of the group Myelodysplastic / Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Treatment (PDQ®) –Patient Version / National Cancer Institute of malignant diseases in which the hematopoietic organs are affected, namely the bone marrow and its stem cells. Normally, all blood cells are formed from them: leukocytes, platelets and erythrocytes. If pathologically altered, cancer cells appear in the bone marrow, then gradually they displace healthy ones, for example, erythrocytes and disrupt their normal formation.

The type of disease depends on which blood cells are dividing incorrectly. But usually, with any cancer of the blood, the number of leukocytes increases. They multiply rapidly, but their structure is changed, and the cells cannot perform their function. Therefore, doctors call the disease leukemia Myelodysplastic / Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Treatment (PDQ®) –Patient Version / National Cancer Institute and distinguish several types of it:

myoblastic;
lymphoblastic;
erythromyeloblastic;
monoblastic;
megakaryoblastic;
erythremia;
lymphocytic leukemia;
essential thrombocythemia;
myeloma;
histiocytosis.

Why blood cancer is dangerous

Blood cancer is considered a deadly disease, but it all depends on its type. For example, in acute myeloid leukemia, Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia - Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) / National Cancer Institute only 29.5% of patients survive for five years. And in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, this indicator Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia - Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) / National Cancer Institute is better: about 70% of people remain alive five years after the onset of the disease. It is believed that blood cancer cannot be cured, you can only achieve long-term remission, when the symptoms disappear or weaken, and the disease stops progressing.

Due to pathology, a person becomes susceptible to infections, so a common cold can lead to serious complications and even death. In addition, cancer cells can damage the brain, resulting in malfunctioning.

What are the signs of blood cancer

Regardless of the type of illness, adults and children may experience the same symptoms. We have collected all possible manifestations of the disease. Here are Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Leukemia / American Cancer Society:

1. Fatigue and fatigue

For example, unusually severe fatigue appears after the usual work. And rest does not always help to restore strength. Doctors believe that such a symptom in blood cancer occurs due to a decrease in the level of red blood cells and blood clots. As a result, the tissues do not receive enough oxygen, and the person gets tired faster.

2. Increase in body temperature

She can rise above the Fever / U. S. norm. National Library of Medicine at 37 ° C. Moreover, sometimes this is due to infectious diseases, and sometimes the cause cannot be determined.

3. Frequent infectious diseases

Although cancer increases the number of white blood cells in the blood, these cells are malformed and cannot protect against infection. Therefore, a person clings to one disease after another.

4. Sweating during sleep

Even at a normal room temperature, a person can sweat a lot during sleep.

5. Tendency to bleeding

In cancer of the blood, the division of several types of cells at once is disrupted. Including platelets, which are responsible for clotting. Because of this, a person often bleeds gums, can suddenly bleed from the nose and easily bruise on the body. Sometimes, small red dots (petechiae) appear on the skin due to slight bleeding.

6. Bone pain

Dividing blood cells accumulate inside the bones, so there is severe bursting pain.

7. Enlargement of the abdomen

Since the bone marrow cannot give the body healthy cells, the liver and spleen take over the function of hematopoiesis. In addition, tumor cells are able to accumulate in these organs. As a result, they greatly increase, which is especially noticeable in children. In adults, abdominal pain and a feeling of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia / U. S. National Library of Medicine distension under the ribs due to the pressure of organs on the neighboring ones.

8. Slimming

An enlarged liver and spleen can put pressure on the stomach, so a person has a false sense of satiety and eats less. In addition, metabolic disorders can occur, due to which the body weight decreases rapidly.

9. Swollen lymph nodes

Cancer blood cells can accumulate in the lymph nodes. Therefore, dense balls appear on the neck, above the collarbones, in the armpits and in the groin. Also, the lymph nodes inside the chest are enlarged, but this can only be seen on pictures.

10. Rash

In some types of blood cancer, tumor cells accumulate in the skin. This is called chloroma, or granulocytic sarcoma. The rash resembles small dark spots.

11. Cough and shortness of breath

If the lymph nodes and thymus enlarge in the chest, they press on the trachea and bronchi. Therefore, it is difficult for a person to breathe and often coughs.

12. Swelling in the upper body

Their reason is still the same - an enlarged thymus and chest lymph nodes. Only in this case they put pressure on the superior vena cava and prevent the blood that comes from the hands and head from entering the heart. This is how venous congestion occurs, which leads to the appearance of edema on the face, neck, chest or arms.

13. Brain damage

In advanced stages, cancer cells can spread to the brain and spinal cord. This disrupts their work, and the person develops headaches and sometimes seizures, loss of memory, balance and blurred vision. There are Signs and Symptoms of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) / American Cancer Society nausea and vomiting.

What to do if you have symptoms of blood cancer

If you find yourself in any of the above, it does not mean that you have cancer. Other diseases can manifest themselves in this way. But in any case, it is worth contacting a therapist who will prescribe a blood test. If there are abnormalities in the results that indicate a hematological disease, then you will be referred to a hematologist. This specialist will conduct a thorough examination and prescribe treatment.