Blood cancer, also called hematologic cancer, can begin in the bone marrow, lymph nodes or blood itself and involves any of the many types of blood cells that circulate throughout the body. Diagnosis of blood cancer may be easy to make, but determining the specific type of blood cancer may be more difficult. After obtaining an accurate diagnosis, the doctor can recommend a specific course of treatment tailored to the patient.
Types
There are several different types of blood cancer, and part of the diagnosis process aims to determine which type is present. Leukemia, the most common form of blood cancer in children, begins in the bone marrow and affects lymphocytes and granulocytes, two types of white blood cells. Lymphomas also affect lymphocytes, but these cancers begin in the lymph nodes. Myeloma affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow, crowding out other red blood cells, white blood cells and plasma.
Symptoms
Certain symptoms lead a doctor to suspect cancer of the blood. Unexplained weight loss, tiredness, bruises that don't heal and shortness of breath are common symptoms of undiagnosed blood cancer. Bone or joint aches are another common complaint of people with blood cancer. Another telltale symptom of blood cancer is abnormalities in the white blood cell profile during blood tests done for other purposes.
Diagnosis Procedure
If a doctor suspects a case of blood cancer, he will generally order a complete blood count, or CBC. In this test, a sample of blood is viewed under a microscope. In some cases, an unusual pattern of white blood cells indicates the possible presence of blood cancer. If the cancer is advanced, abnormal malignant cells may even be visible in the sample. The doctor may also use X-rays or a physical examination to look for swollen lymph nodes or the presence of tumors in the bone marrow.
Biopsy
A biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis of blood cancer and narrow down the specific type of cancer if it remains unknown after a CBC. In a biopsy, a tissue sample is taken from the bone marrow or lymph node using a long needle. These samples are analyzed in a lab using chemical tests or visual inspection via a microscope. In some types of blood cancer, the presence of specific cells defines which type of cancer it is. For example, Hodgkin's lymphoma is diagnosed if cells called Reed-Sternberg cells are visible in the sample. Along with confirming the initial diagnosis, a biopsy can also be useful for assessing the severity of the cancer.
Response
The response of doctor and patient after a diagnosis of blood cancer depends on the specific type of cancer and the aggressiveness of the disease. For some types, aggressive treatment with chemotherapy, drug therapy, radiation or stem cell transplantation is necessary. In slower-growing blood cancers, the doctor may recommend holding off on major treatments and waiting to watch how the disease progresses before deciding on a treatment option.
