An oncologist named 10 early symptoms of blood cancer

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Many people are unsure about the symptoms of blood cancer and don't know when to seek help.

Blood cancer includes lymphomas, leukemias, and multiple myeloma. Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells in the bone marrow. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, and multiple myeloma arises in the bone marrow and affects plasma cells.

Many people do not realize that blood cancer has become very common. They cause more deaths each year than breast or prostate cancer.

“Millions of blood cancers are diagnosed worldwide every year,” says an oncologist.

According to the doctor, as well as many types of cancer, blood cancer is often diagnosed late, which worsens the prognosis.

“Around 30 percent of blood cancers are diagnosed during emergency hospital admissions. 40 percent of these will survive five years, compared with 77 percent if diagnosed by a GP. There is generally low awareness of blood cancers among the general public. This means people are unsure of the symptoms and don’t know when to seek help.”

Early symptoms of blood cancers are often vague and non-specific.

The doctor said anemia and low platelet levels cause some of these symptoms and signs:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Bruising easily
• Lumps and swelling – due to enlarged lymph nodes.
• Profuse sweating
• High fever
• Shortness of breath
• Recurrent or persistent infections
• Looking pale
• Skin rash and itchy skin

Without treatment, the blood cancer becomes neglected, which means that the blood, lymph vessels, and bone marrow are filled with poorly functioning types of blood cells.

And here are other symptoms that may occur.

“There can be deposits in the bone marrow that cause bone pain. Anemia worsens, causing shortness of breath and chest pain. Poor immune function increases susceptibility to any type of infection, and the patient is at risk for pneumonia and sepsis. The patient feels increasingly weak and exhausted, with poor appetite and subsequent weight loss. Blood cancer can affect the brain, causing headaches and seizures,” explains the oncologist.

You should see your doctor if you have any symptoms that indicate blood cancer. Most people with any of these symptoms won't have blood cancer, so it's important to take this into account, but if you have symptoms like unexplained weight loss, night sweats, bruising or light bleeding, don't ignore it, see your doctor therapist.

To reduce the risk of blood cancer, treat any chronic diseases as best you can, eat a healthy diet, maintain your weight within the recommended BMI, regularly do sports, do not smoke and drink alcohol within the recommended limits.