Top 3 Blood Cancers: Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma

Leukemia

This is cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, which include the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Leukemia usually involves the white blood cells, which fight against infection. People with leukemia produce abnormal white blood cells in their bone marrow, which prevents them from working properly. Symptoms can include:

• Fever or chills
• Persistent fatigue, weakness
• Frequent or severe infections
• Losing weight without trying
• Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
• Easy bleeding or bruising
• Recurrent nosebleeds
• Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)
• Excessive sweating, especially at night
• Bone pain or tenderness

Myeloma

Multiple myeloma cancer forms in a type of white blood cell called plasma cells; these help you fight infections by making antibodies that protect you from germs. With this, cancerous cells accumulate in the bone marrow where they overtake healthy blood cells. Symptoms can include:

• Bone pain, especially in your spine or chest
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Mental fogginess or confusion
• Fatigue
• Frequent infections
• Weight loss
• Weakness or numbness in your legs
• Excessive thirst

It’s important to never self-medicate or diagnose. The only way to know if you have blood cancer is to visit your doctor. Do not self-medicate or self-diagnose because that will just add unnecessary worry. Please visit your doctor if you have any of these symptoms, the sooner you are diagnosed the better the outcome.

NEXT: Does Obesity Put You at Risk for Multiple Myeloma?