Diagnosis of blood cancer usually begins with a visit to the doctor.
The doctor will usually start by gathering information, such as the known family history of cancer and the person's medical history. Then, the doctor will perform various tests to further investigate:
Physical examination
The doctor will examine the patient for general signs of health, including palpating any strange lumps or unusual occurrences in the body.
Blood test
A blood sample is taken from the person and sent to a lab for further testing. There are several types of blood tests, including:
Complete blood count (CBC): the person's blood is tested for a complete blood count. This involves examining and determining the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood.
Peripheral blood smear: This test is usually done as a follow-up if the results of the blood count are abnormal. The smear is used to check for any abnormalities present and the appearance of the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Blood chemistry: this is used to measure the health of a person.
Blood Coagulation Tests
This measures whether the blood clots normally, because clotting is a function of the platelets and proteins in the blood. Some blood cancers can reduce the number of platelets and cause frequent bruising or bleeding. Blood clotting tests can help determine whether the bruising and bleeding are due to the cancer or to another cause.
Urine tests
Myeloma can affect kidney function. If myeloma is suspected, urine tests are done to determine the function of the kidneys and assess their health.
Biopsy
A biopsy involves removing a small piece of tissue from the body to examine it for the presence of cancer cells. The doctor may suggest taking a sample of tissue from the bone marrow (called a bone marrow biopsy) or taking a sample of fluid from the bone marrow (called a bone marrow aspiration).
X-rays
This examination can be used specifically for myeloma. It helps to detect lesions in the bones caused by myeloma. It can also detect weakened areas of bone or fractures that may need surgery.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
This procedure uses a magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to create detailed images of areas in the body. This can be used to detect areas where the bone is damaged. This can help confirm the presence and spread of myeloma.
Treatment of blood cancer
Treatment for blood cancer depends on the type of blood cancer, the stage of the cancer, the rate of growth and spread of the cancer to other parts of the body, the genetic mutations that may be present in the cancer cells, and the age and overall health of the person with cancer. Here are some treatment options you may consider.
Watchful waiting
In certain cases of blood cancer, a wait-and-see approach is recommended. This usually happens when the person does not experience any symptoms of their disease and the blood cancer is slow growing. The person's health is closely monitored and no treatment is given, except for treatment of infections. Doctors monitor the person for changes in condition and symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, or an enlarged spleen.
Chemotherapy
This form of medication is injected into the body or taken in the form of pills. It contains cancer drugs that help kill cancer cells and stop their production, although they can also attack other cells in the body.
Targeted therapies
This form of treatment is most commonly used to treat leukemia. Drugs are used that specifically kill malignant blood cells. These drugs do not harm normal cells. Targeted therapies block the growth of cancer cells instead of killing the cancer cells. Therefore, they are usually used in conjunction with chemotherapy to treat blood cancers.
Radiation therapy
High-energy radiation is used to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used to treat bone pain caused by the growth of blood cancer cells in the bone marrow. It may also be used before a stem cell transplant.
Surgery
Surgery is used to remove affected lymph nodes to treat certain types of blood cancer. In some cases, a person with blood cancer may have surgery to remove an enlarged spleen that may be pressing on other organs, such as the stomach, causing discomfort.
Immunotherapy
This form of treatment involves activating the body's immune system to specifically kill cancer cells.
Stem cell transplant
After chemotherapy, healthy stem cells are infused into the body to restore bone marrow and continue healthy blood production to destroy malignant blood cells. Chemotherapy effectively destroys the cancer cells, but often damages the healthy blood cells as well. These stem cells are immature cells that can grow into new blood cells. They are taken from the cancer patient before chemotherapy begins or donated by a donor.
For many who are diagnosed with blood cancer, the goal of treatment is to cure the cancer And completely eliminate all signs of cancer in the body. This is called a complete remission. However, partial remission is also possible, and this is when only a small number of cancer cells remain in the body.
Some blood cancers are chronic and cannot be cured, but are treated with ongoing treatment. For many people, blood cancer does not shorten life expectancy, and regular medications and treatments can help stabilise the condition. If the cancer becomes more aggressive, more intensive treatment may be needed to control the cancer.
How to prevent blood cancer
To prevent blood cancer, it can be helpful to reduce exposure to factors that increase the risk for blood cancer and to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Some tips include:
Avoid exposure to radiation, chemicals such as pesticides or benzene.
Avoid smoking or tobacco in any form.
Stay active and keep fit by exercising regularly.
Eat a healthy diet, with plenty of vitamins and antioxidants.
