If someone you love has been diagnosed

You might find our information for friends and family supportful. It covers:

blood cancer causes

•            how to support someone with blood cancer

•            practical tips

•            coping with your own emotions

•            real stories from other friends and family members.

Although we don’t normally know exactly why someone will develop blood cancer, there are things that we know can affect your risk:

•            age

•            sex

•            ethnicity

•            family history

•            radiation or chemical exposure

•            Certain health treatments and conditions.

Blood cancer symptoms

Some usual blood cancer or bone marrow symptoms including:

•            Fever, chills

•            Persistent fatigue, weakness

•            Loss of appetite, nausea

•            Unexplained weight loss

•            Night sweats

•            Bone/joint pain

•            Abdominal discomfort

•            Headaches

•            Shortness of breath

•            Frequent infections

•            Itchy skin or skin rashes

Causes of blood cancer

Blood cancers were caused by mutations in genetic material—the DNA—of blood cells. Other risk factors vary based on particular kind of blood cancer.

Risk factors to developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the usual format of leukemia in adults, include:

•            Advancing age

•            Gender: being male

•            Exposure to industrial chemicals such as benzene

•            Smoking

•            History of cancer treatment

•            Exposure to high doses of radiation

•            History of other blood cancers

Risk factors for developing Hodgkin lymphoma include:

•            History of infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes infection mononucleosis (mono)

•            Advanced age

•            Gender (being male)

•            Family history of Hodgkin lymphoma

•            Compromising immune structure

Risk factors to developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma involve:

•            Exposure to some insecticides, industrial chemicals, and herbicides

•            History of chemotherapy

•            Radiation exposure

•            Compromised immune system

•            History of the autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

Risk factors to developing multiple myeloma include:

•            Advancing age

•            Gender (being male)

•            Race: Higher risk among African Americans

•            Obesity or extra body weight

Lifestyle Changes for Better Health

While medical treatment is necessary, adopt a healthy lifestyle could help the recovery and overall well-being. Here are certain lifestyle changes to consider:

•            Balanced Diet: Consume the nutrient-rich diet with plenty of fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and lean proteins to help the immune system.

•            Regular Exercise: Engaged in the moderate physical activity to boost up energy levels and lessen fatigue.

•            Stress Management: yoga, Practice meditation, and deep breathing to manage anxiety and stress.

•            Avoid Smoking and Alcohol: Eliminating harmful substances could refine the overall health and support in good treatment outcomes.

•            Adequate Rest: Ensure you getting enough sleep to help the healing procedure.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Diagnosing blood cancer involving several tests, including:

•            Complete Blood Count (CBC): Identifies abnormalities in white and red blood cell levels.

•            Bone Marrow Biopsy: Determines the presence of cancerous cells in a bone marrow.

•            Imaging Tests (CT, MRI, PET scans): Help assess the spread of a disease.

•            Flow Cytometry: Analyses blood cells to classify different kind of blood cancer.

•            chemotherapy

•            targeted therapies

•            immunotherapy

•            radiotherapy

•            stem cell transplants.

Treatment Options

Treatment for blood cancer varies based on the stage or type of the disease. Common treatments include:

•            Chemotherapy: Uses powerful drugs to kill cancerous cells.

•            Radiation Therapy: Targets and destroying cancer cells utilizing higher-energy beams.

•            Targeted Therapy: Focuses on particular genetic mutations in cancer cells.

•            Bone Marrow Transplant: Replaces diseased bone marrow with healthier stem cells.

•            Immunotherapy: Boosting the body’s immune system to fight up cancer effectively.

What are the symptoms of blood cancer in the females?

Common symptoms

•            Fatigue: Persistent tiredness that was not relieved by rest.

•            Frequent infections: Getting sick often with infections like UTIs or sinus infections that were severe or did not go away.

•            Easy bruising or bleeding: Unusual bruising on the arms, legs, prolonged bleeding, or hips from small gums or cuts.

•            Swollen lymph nodes.

•            Fever and night sweats: drenching night sweats or Persistent fever.

•            Unexplained weight loss: Loosing weight without trying.

•            Bone or joint pain: Aching in the another bones, back, or hips.

•            Abdominal discomfort: A feeling of fullness or pain in the stomach zone, which could be caused by the enlarging liver or spleen.

Additional signs to watch for

•            Shortness of breath: This could occuring during the regular activities.

•            Itchy skin or rashes: Especially purple patches (purpura) or red spots (petechiae) that do not fade away when pressed.

•            Heavy or irregular bleeding: Especially irregular or heavy menstrual periods, which could worsen over time.