If you have a family member who has blood cancer and wants to understand the disease better, this book is for you. It will help you better prepare for the medical appointments and treatments your family member may be going through. People often think of cancer as a death sentence. Many patients live with the fear that their illness may be terminal and they may die before they get the chance to see their children grow up.
Blood cancers are diseases that affect the blood. They include leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and others. They are also sometimes called “blood cancers” because there is some connection between them and the blood. Blood cancer is a serious disease, but not all are equally deadly. While most blood cancers are aggressive and require treatment, some types are curable, and others are not.
The information in this book is intended to help patients manage blood cancer during its course as well as after it has been treated and resolved. Patients and their caregivers need to learn to cope with the challenges of blood cancer and the emotional upheaval that often accompanies it. They also need to develop strategies for dealing with the emotional distress of dealing with a serious illness and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
What is blood cancer?
While many people know that cancer can be deadly, they often don’t understand what blood cancer means. Blood cancer is a disease that affects the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. The most common types of blood cancers are leukemias and lymphomas. Other blood cancers include myelomas and myelodysplastic syndromes. Blood cancer can also refer to a specific type of leukemia, such as acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Blood cancers can either be chronic or acute. The main difference between the two types is that chronic blood cancers typically have no symptoms and appear slowly, whereas sensitive blood cancers are usually associated with noticeable symptoms. Blood cancers can be acute or chronic. The main difference between the two types is that chronic blood cancers typically have no symptoms and appear slowly, whereas sensitive blood cancers are usually associated with noticeable symptoms.
Types of blood cancers
Blood cancers are diseases that affect the blood. They include leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and others. They are also sometimes called “blood cancers” because there is some connection between them and the blood. While it’s true that most types of blood cancers are rare, they can still have a devastating impact on individuals and their families. Leukemia is the most common type of blood cancer. It’s also known as acute lymphocytic leukemia or ALL, which affects white blood cells. It’s cancer that starts in the bone marrow, which produces blood-forming cells. Lymphoma is another type of blood cancer. It’s also called non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or NHL. Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that’s often considered a rare disease. It affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow.
How to detect blood cancer?
The most common blood cancers are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Leukemia, the most common form of blood cancer, is a group of cancers that start in the blood-forming cells. Leukemia is categorized into acute and chronic conditions. Acute leukemia is more deadly than chronic leukemia. The uncontrolled growth of abnormal white blood cells characterizes acute leukemia. Lymphoma is cancer that starts in the lymphatic system. Lymphoma is further broken down into Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and other types. Myeloma is a type of cancer that begins in the plasma cells. Myeloma is also known as multiple myeloma.
Treatment options for blood cancers
Unfortunately, patients often have to deal with their blood cancer symptoms for a long time. They are often treated with chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. They may have to deal with other problems when they do get better. For instance, patients with lymphoma are prone to infections because of the condition. Patients with leukemia are more likely to have immune issues, too. So they must learn how to deal with these problems, too. This is why the best treatment options for blood cancers are also the best options for overall health. Here are some treatment options for blood cancers:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill cells that are dividing. In most cases, chemotherapy is used to treat blood cancers. Chemotherapy may also treat certain types of cancer that have spread to other organs.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is another type of treatment that uses radiation. It is used to treat cancer that has not yet spread. Radiation can also be used to treat blood cancers that are in the body.
Bone marrow transplants
Bone marrow transplants are a type of treatment that use stem cells from a donor to replace a person’s damaged or missing blood-forming ce. Bone marrow transplants treat blood cancers when the patient has no other treatment options.
Surgery
Some people with blood cancers need surgery. This is true for leukemia, for example. It is also true for certain lymphomas, such as Burkitt’s lymphoma. Surgical treatments can help remove tumors.
Hospitals
Blood cancers are usually treated at hospitals. Hospitals are used to treat all kinds of illnesses.
How to prevent blood cancer?
Many people who develop blood cancers do so after a long time. They may have been diagnosed with cancer for a few months or years. They have survived a period of treatment, and then they feel fine. They are happy and healthy, and they are doing well. However, a few months later, they start feeling tired and weak. They are getting headaches and feeling sick. They know something is wrong and want to find out what it is.
Blood cancers can be difficult to detect because many people who get them have no symptoms at all. If they are going to find out what is wrong, they need to have a good test done. This test will tell them if they have leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, or some other type of cancer. It is called a blood count. If you are concerned that you might have blood cancer, you should talk to your doctor about having your blood counts checked. You may need to undergo blood tests several times to ensure that you don’t have cancer.
Featured questions about blood cancer.
Q: You were diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2012; what was it like?
A: After my first round of chemotherapy, I felt pretty good. But the second time around was rough. I was sick for weeks. I think this one went to my brain. The third time, I had no hair, and I just had to deal with the fact that I wouldn’t be able to walk or do anything anymore.
Q: How did you cope with the situation?
A: I didn’t do anything. I stayed in my room and watched TV all day. I cried a lot.
Q: Did you receive any support?
A: Yes. Many people helped me, and I am thankful for that. I had lots of friends who cared about me. They brought me food, gave me rides to appointments, and helped me when I needed it.
Myths about blood cancer
1. Blood cancers are curable with surgery alone.
2. Cancer treatment is mostly pain-killing and supportive care.
3. Blood cancer patients should live with their illness instead of being active and busy.
Conclusion
I’m going to be upfront with you. I am not a medical expert. I’ve never had cancer myself, and I don’t know anyone who has. However, I have been researching blood cancer for quite a while now, and I’ve found that several people are informed about the disease. So I’m going to share with you what I’ve learned. Hopefully, it will be helpful to you!
