September 2013 is America’s 4th Annual Blood Cancer Awareness Month. At Angeles Health we offer a range of treatment programs, including Bone Marrow Transplantation and Alternative Cancer treatment programs that are designed to help patients to beat blood cancers, such as myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia.
This month we will be doing our bit to raise awareness of blood cancers, giving information about the different types of blood cancer, symptoms of blood cancers and the different treatment programs for blood cancer.
What is Blood Cancer?
Blood cancer is a collective term for a range of cancers that affect the production of blood cells. Usually, a blood cancer will start in the bone marrow, where blood cells are made.
Stem cells in the bone marrow develop to become one of three types of blood cell: white blood cells (wbc’s), red blood cells (rbc’s) and platelets. Usually, if a person has a blood cancer one type of cell reproduces abnormally. The increased or abnormal production of one type of blood cell results in lowered blood function. This means that the blood is unable to do its job, such as clotting to prevent bleeding, fighting infection and supplying the body with enough oxygen.
Types of Blood Cancer
There are three main types of blood cancer. These are Lymphoma, Leukemia and Myeloma.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a blood cancer that affects the lymphocytes, the cells found in the lymphatic system. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that are part of the immune system. Abnormal lymphocytes become lymphoma cells, which reproduce and collect within the lymph system. Over time, these lymphoma cells can cause impaired immunity. Although there are over 35 types of lymphoma, they are split into two broad categories; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and is caused by abnormal white blood cell production. The bone marrow produces very high numbers of white blood cells, which are released into the blood before they are fully mature. These immature white blood are unable to fight infection and prevent the bone marrow from producing enough red blood cells and platelets.
Myeloma
Just as Leukemia affects the bone marrow, and lymphoma affects lymphocytes, myeloma targets plasma cells, the cells responsible for producing antibodies that fight disease. Myeloma cells therefore leave the body susceptible to disease.
Treating Blood Cancer
As awareness of blood cancer rises, quicker diagnosis, new treatment programs and a higher volume of people on bone marrow donor registers worldwide mean that blood cancer is becoming more treatable. Depending on the type and stage of the blood cancer and the patient’s overall physical health, chemotherapy will usually be used to treat blood cancer. Bone marrow transplantation or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation are, at this stage, the only known cure for blood cancers.
To find out more about the treatments that are offered within the Angeles Health Network, contact us today.
Keep a lookout this month for more facts, information about support about blood cancers. Or you can visit www.bonemarrowmx.com.
