Types Of Blood Cancer
What are the different types of blood cancer? Cancer is one of the main diseases that are affecting so many people in the world today. There are many types of cancer that are usually associated to almost all body parts. An organization by the name cancer research UK estimates that there are more than 200 types of cancer each with different causes, symptoms and treatments. In 2010, over 300 thousand people were diagnosed with cancer in the United Kingdom. Worldwide, the number was estimated to be above a million. This indicates the seriousness of this disease. When detected early, cancer can be treated. However, if the disease is not detected early enough, then the disease has no cure. Blood cancer is the cancer that affects the production and function of the blood cells. Blood is produced in the bone marrow. It is believed that this is where a majority of blood cancer originates from. Several types of blood cancer have been identified. These are: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma which will be discussed further.
Leukaemia
This cancer is found in the bone marrow and blood and is caused by the rapid production of abnormal production of white blood cells. There are two main types of leukemia. These are: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and Acute myeloid Leukaemia (AML). However, there are other types of leaukaemia which are: chronic myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and hairy cell leukemia. ALL is very rare in adults but very common in young people. In the UK, about 8,300 people are diagnosed with ALL annually. Of these only 700 people are adults. In addition, it is most common in males than in females. According to researchers at Harvard, black people are less susceptible to this disease as compared to white people. The main causes of these types of blood cancer are: radiation exposure, viruses, smoking, electromagnetic fields, weakened immunity and genetic conditions among others.
AML is very rare. Of the 8,300 people diagnosed with cancer annually in the UK, 2500 people only have the AML. These types of blood cancer are very common with aging people as it is common to people over 65 years of age. The main causes of this cancer are: radiation, smoking, genetics and blood disorders among others.
Lymphoma
These are other types of blood cancer that occurs when the lymphocyte B or T and the white blood cells begins to behave abnormally. Lymphoma presents a solid tumour of lymphoid cells. There are more than 10 types of lymphoma cancer such as follicular lymphoma, precursor T-cell leukemia and diffuse large B cell lymphoma among others. The main causes of these typse of blood cancer are: genetics, smoking and blood disorders among others.
Myeloma
Myeloma are other types of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow which is called plasma cells. The cause of myeloma has not been really identified. However, contributing factors that have been identified include: infection, environmental factors and chemicals among others. However, as it is with many other types of blood cancer, it is not a hereditary disease.
As mentioned above, a cure for cancer has not been identified. However, when it is detected earlier, it can be treated. This requires frequent visit to the healthcare for a scan frequently.
