Q. What is blood cancer?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Blood cancer is a form of cancer that affects the cells in the blood, generally involving abnormal production and function of one or more types of blood cells. It is also referred to as hematological malignancy, or a type of liquid tumor.
Blood cancers are classified by their cellular origin: lymphocytic leukemia, which arises from white blood cells; myeloid leukemia and its variants (acute myeloid leukemia), arising from red blood cells and other related cell lines; and plasma cell disorders (multiple myeloma) arising from antibodies produced by B-cells in the immune system.
These diseases can be fatal if not treated immediately with correct diagnostics and treatment options. The overall prognosis for any specific case depends on a number of factors such as age, general health condition, type and stage at diagnosis, response to treatment options like chemotherapy or radiation therapy etc. While initial symptoms may include fatigue, loss of appetite and fever – due to lack of platelets or anemia – further tests are needed to narrow down the cause accurately.
The most definitive way to diagnose any kind of blood cancer would involve analyzing tissue samples under microscopes along with cytology studies where laboratory technicians analyze changes within individual cell structure compared against healthy counterparts – this helps physicians understand tumor grade for various forms as well as identify genetic abnormalities responsible for certain subtypes before initiating treatments accordingly. As mentioned earlier appropriate therapies greatly improve chances especially when combined with lifestyle modifications such as eating balanced meals instead processed junk food while supplementing diets with essential vitamins & minerals that help support bone marrow health during treatments aimed at combatting these diseases specifically dedicated towards patient’s level of comfort & recovery alike!