The blood is made up of a number of cells and compounds, which fall into the general categories of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, which are suspended in a saline solution called plasma. The cells of the blood are developed from stem cells in bone marrow and then released into the bloodstream, in a constant turnover of cells throughout life. When cells within the bone marrow develop genetic mutations, they can become cancerous and lead to an accumulation of blood cells. There are a range of blood cancer types, which differ in their aggressiveness and their originating cell type.
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML, is a form of cancer that affects granulocytes, a subclass of white blood cells. In AML, the stem cells in the bone marrow generate too many granulocytes. In addition, the granulocytes are mutated so they cannot function normally in the bloodstream, and the blood is over-crowded with useless white blood cells.
AML can occur in adults and children, and Standord Medicine reports that the disease is associated with specific genetic changes in the cells that initiate the development of cancer-over 130 genes have been identified which contribute to the growth and development of AML. According to Stanford Medicine, AML is generally treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and may be treated with bone marrow transplants to remove the mutant bone marrow cells.
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin's lympoma, or NHL, is a group of cancer types which affect the immune system cells within the blood. According to the National Cancer Institute, NHL led to almost 20,000 deaths in the United States in 2009.
NHL is caused when too many lymphocyte cells are created, due to uncontrolled proliferation of stem cells. There are a number of types of NHL that are classified as either fast-growing and aggressive, and slow-growing types. Additionally, NHL is classified depending on which cell types it affects: either B-cells or T-cells in the blood. NHL is usually treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or immunotherapy.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic lymphocutic leukemia, or CLL, is another form of cancer that affects the immune cells of the blood. CLL is classified into two main types: those that affect the B-cells of the blood and those that affect the T-cells. CLL occurs when the normal turnover of lymphocytes get disrupted; the B-cells or T-cells which are supposed to die fail to do so, leading to an accumulation of lymphocytes in the blood. According to the University of Pennsylvania, 90 percent of CLL cases involve accumulation of B-cells.
The University of Pennsylvania report that CLL is commonly treated using chemotherapy and specialized therapeutics to target the cancer cells in the blood. The timing for treatment is crucial, as treating too early in cancer development can be ineffective, and waiting too long to treat the cancer may allow for development of more severe conditions which can be fatal.
