Blood Cancer

Blood cancer, scientifically known as leukemia, is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells or bone marrow and is characterized by an abnormal reproduction of blood cells. All blood cells are produced in the bone marrow from stem cells. A stem cell is the initial stage of every blood cell. The stem cells may produce abnormal cells ((usually white blood cells) that do not function properly. When the cells of the blood grow abnormally, it is called blood cancer or leukemia. If white blood cells are affected, they will not be able to help your body fight infection and it reduces immune system of the body. It becomes dangerous for life when abnormal growth of the blood cells weakens the body's defense mechanism. When it comes in knowledge of people that they have leukemia, they feel confused and overwhelmed. It becomes very distressing and difficult time both for them and their families.

Blood cancer is categorized as- Acute leukemia and Chronic leukemia. In Acute leukemia, cells develop rapidly and immature white blood cells gather in and consequently enter the other different parts of the body. The symptoms of acute leukemia are- Weakness and fatigue, Fever, Weight loss, frequent infections, Excessive bruising, bleeding (of the gums or nose), Blood in the urine or stools, Pain in the bones and joints, Breathlessness (can be due to anemia), Enlarged lymph glands, liver and/or spleen.

Chronic leukemia is a slowly progressive form of leukemia where the white blood cells of cancer develop slowly than acute leukemia and they steadily could not do their function well. An increased number of lymphocytes, which make up one of the main sub-groups of white cells in the blood, are seen in chronic leukemia. This blood cancer has a slow process of development of cancer cells. Symptoms are-tiredness (due to anemia), bruising easily (often without having had any blow or fall), repeated infections, enlarged lymph glands, weight loss, night sweats, fever.

Leukemia is usually diagnosed through a blood test that measures the number of blood cells and looks for any abnormal cells. Suspected people are generally referred to an expert doctor, usually a hematologist (a specialist in the treatment of blood disorders).

Doctor prescribes medications, sometimes called "growth factors," that encourage your body to produce more blood cells. The treatment of blood cancer is performed with the patients in order to achieve best results. The procedures of cancer treatment are as followed- Chemotherapy, Interferon therapy, Radiation therapy, Stem Cell Transplantation, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Surgery. Treatment is performed for the removal of an enlarged spleen or to install a venous access device to give medications and withdraw blood samples or to kill cancer cells.