#ThrowbackTuesday: History of celebrating September as Blood Cancer Awareness Month

September is Blood Cancer Awareness: Everything you need to know

Highlights:

• An overview of Blood Cancer
• There are three types of Blood Cancer Cells
• How to detect blood cancer? Signs and symptoms
• What can cause Blood Cancer?
• Blood cancer cases in India

Every year September is celebrated as Blood Cancer Awareness Month. The main aim of celebrating September as Blood Cancer Awareness month is to raise awareness of lymphoma and leukaemia. Approximately every 3 minutes, one person in the US is diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma.

An overview of Blood Cancer

This type of cancer affects the production and function of your blood cells. Notably, this type of cancer starts with the bone marrow, the primary source of blood production. The stem cells in your bone marrow mature and develop into three blood cells – Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, or platelets. When cancer develops, the growth of cells gets interrupted, and other abnormal types of blood cells increase. The various types of cells include – Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma.

There are three types of Blood Cancer Cell

• Leukaemia: It is caused due to the rapid production of abnormal blood cells in the bone marrow. It affects the bone marrow’s ability to produce red blood cells and platelets.
• Lymphoma: It affects the lymphatic system. Notably, the Lymphatic system is responsible for removing excess fluid from your body. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell which are responsible for fighting infections.
• Myeloma: This type of blood cancer affects the plasma cells. It involves the growth of plasma which results in a weak immune system.

1. How to detect blood cancer? Signs and symptoms

Blood cancer can affect your blood, bone marrow, or lymphatic system. Here is a list of common signs and symptoms:

• Weakness, Fatigue
• Shortness of Breath
• Weight Loss
• Sweating in during the night
• Lymph Node Enlargement
• Bone Pain and Back Pain
• Headaches along with visual problems
• Decreased urination and difficulty in urination
• Bleeding gums

Note: It is always advisable to see a doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms. Do not jump to a conclusion; go under proper scanning.

What can cause Blood Cancer?

The specific cause of Blood cancer in the human being is unknown but here are a few causes that can lead to blood cancer in human beings

•  Ageing
• Family History
• Weak Immune System
• Certain Infections

What are the treatments available?

The main objective of blood cancer treatment is to eradicate cancer from the body. A few treatments that are given to a cancer patient are as follows:

1. Chemotherapy
2. Biological therapy to kill cancers
3. Bone Marrow Transplantation- This is done to replace the damaged and destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells.

Blood cancer cases in India

According to Globocan 2012, a report was prepared by the World Health Organisation which says that Blood cancer was at number 9 among the top 20 cancers affecting Indians. It concerned an estimated 32,000 men and women in the country that year and caused 26,000 deaths. It could be cured in more than 85 per cent at an early stage. But it is essential to get it detected at an early stage. Unexplained fever for more than weeks and swelling in the neck and abdomen should not be ignored.

If you hint any of the mentioned symptoms, get yourself checked now. Remember, Prevention is always better than cure. But cautiousness saves lives.

Edit by Ayushi mittal

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