ONCOLOGY_1_BLOOD CANCER

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ONCOLOGY_1_BLOOD CANCER
Blood cancer, also called Hematologic cancer, affects how your body produces blood cells and how well those cells work. Most blood cancers start in your bone marrow, the soft, sponge-like material in the center of your bones. Your bone marrow makes stem cells that mature and become red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Normal blood cells fight infection, carry oxygen throughout your body, and control bleeding. Blood cancer happens when something disrupts how your body makes blood cells. If you have blood cancer, abnormal blood cells overwhelm normal blood cells, creating a ripple effect of medical conditions.
blood cancers represent about 10% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States each year, and an estimated 3% of all cancer-related deaths. National Cancer Institute data show a steady decline in blood cancer deaths.
There are three blood cancer types, each with several subtypes. Those cancer types and subtypes are:

  • Leukemia is the most common blood cancer among children. It is a cancer of the blood, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal blood cells. This uncontrolled growth occurs in your bone marrow, where most of your blood is produced. Leukemia cells are usually immature (still developing) white blood cells. The term leukemia comes from the Greek words for “white” (leukos) and “blood” (haima). Examples of leukemia include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia.
  • Lymphoma is cancer of your lymphatic system, which includes your bone marrow. The survival rate has doubled over the past 40 years. There are many types of lymphoma. The main subtypes are: Hodgkin lymphoma & Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Examples of lymphoma include Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, follicular lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
  • Myeloma is cancer that starts in your bone marrow and affects your plasma cells. Multiple myeloma is the most common myeloma type. More than half of people diagnosed with myeloma are alive five years after diagnosis. Other examples of myeloma include plasmacytoma and amyloidosis.

CAUSES:

  • Leukemia: Researchers think leukemia happens when a combination of environmental and genetic factors triggers DNA changes. In this case, researchers think changes in chromosomes may trigger DNA changes.In leukemia, this switch may affect a set of genes that help cells grow and another set of genes that suppress tumors. Researchers believe exposure to high levels of radiation or certain chemicals plays a role in the genetic changes that cause leukemia.
  • Lymphoma: Lymphoma happens when there’s a change in genes in white blood cells, called lymphocytes, that causes them to multiply uncontrollably. In addition, abnormal lymphocytes don’t die when normal lymphocytes die. Again, researchers don’t know what triggers the genetic change, but research shows certain infections or having a depressed immune system may be factors.
  • Myeloma: In this case, plasma cells in your bone marrow get new genetic instructions that make them multiply. Researchers are investigating potential links between myeloma and chromosomal change that affect genes that control plasma cell growth.
SYMPTOMS:
  • Fatigue
  • Persistent fever
  • Drenching night sweats
  • Unusual bleeding or bruising
  • Unexpected or unexplained weight loss
  • Frequent infections
  • Swollen lymph nodes or an enlarged liver or spleen
  • Bone pain
TREATMENTS:

1.Chemotherapy
2.Radiation therapy
3.Immunotherapy
4.Targeted therapy for cancer
5.CAR T-cell therapy
6.Autologous stem cell transplant
7.Allogeneic stem cell transplant: .




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