Cancer is a serious disease, whose different types have become a cause of trouble for many people around the world. Cancers affecting different parts of the body are known by the same names. Blood Cancer is a serious type of this disease (Blood Cancer Causes), which is also known as hematologic cancer.

It is very dangerous and therefore, Blood Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated every year in the month of September to spread awareness about this disease. On this occasion, Dr. Vigyan Mishra, Head of Newberg Diagnostics Lab, Noida, is telling about the early symptoms of blood cancer and common tests for its diagnosis-

How many types of blood cancer are there

Blood cancers include various types of cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic systems, such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The early symptoms of all these cancers are often similar, which may appear vague or similar to other common diseases, making them difficult to detect early. If you are also seeing the following symptoms, do not ignore it.

Unexplained fatigue: Persistent and unexplained fatigue is one of the earliest and most common symptoms of blood cancer. This fatigue is often severe and does not go away even with rest.

• Frequent infections: Blood cancer weakens the immune system, which leads to frequent infections. Due to this, a person is susceptible to frequent cold, flu or other infections, which take longer than usual to heal.
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• Bruising or bleeding: Easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums can also be early symptoms of blood cancer. This is due to a lack of platelets, the cells responsible for blood clotting.
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• Swollen lymph nodes: Enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the neck, armpits or groin, can be a sign of lymphoma, one of the types of blood cancer.
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• Bone pain: Some blood cancers, especially myeloma, cause bone pain . This pain is particularly felt in the back or ribs, as cancer cells grow inside the bone marrow.
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• Paleness or anemia: Blood cancers often cause a significant decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia. This can cause pale skin, shortness of breath, or dizziness.
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• Fever and night sweats: Sudden fever and night sweats are also common early symptoms of blood cancer. These symptoms often come and go and may not be associated with a specific infection.
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Tests to diagnose blood cancer

If you notice the initial symptoms of blood cancer in you and have some doubts, then contact the doctor for its diagnosis without delay. The doctor will advise you to get some tests done (Blood Cancer Diagonosis Test), some of the major ones of which are as follows-

• Complete blood count (CBC): This is often the first test done when a blood cancer is suspected. The CBC measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. An abnormal count may indicate a blood cancer.
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• Bone marrow biopsy: A bone marrow biopsy involves removing a small sample of bone marrow, usually from the hip bone, to check for the presence of cancer cells. This test is important for diagnosing leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
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• Flow cytometry: This test analyzes the physical and chemical properties of cells in a blood or bone marrow sample. It helps identify specific marks on the surface of cancer cells, diagnosing and classifying them.
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• Imaging tests: X-rays, CT scans, or PET scans may be used to check for swollen lymph nodes, tumors, or other signs of blood cancer in different parts of the body.
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• Cytogenetic test: This test examines the chromosomes of blood or bone marrow cells to identify genetic abnormalities that may indicate the presence of blood cancer.