Blood cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. These cells develop into different types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In blood cancer, these cells grow out of control and can crowd out healthy blood cells. This can lead to several problems, such as anaemia, infections, and bleeding.
Blood cancer is a type of cancer that affects the blood cells. It is the most common type of cancer in children and adolescents. There are many different types of blood cancer, but they all start in the bone marrow, which is the spongy tissue inside bones that produces blood cells.
Blood cancer is the third most common type of cancer in India. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) over 100,000 new cases of blood cancer are diagnosed in India every year. Someone gets diagnosed with this devastating disease every 5 minutes, resulting in an estimated 70,000 incidences of it annually.
Blood cancer is a grave public health concern, characterized by its high prevalence and mortality rates. The five-year survival rate for blood cancer in India is around 30%.
Types of blood cancer
There are three main types of blood cancer:
- Leukaemia: This type of blood cancer affects the white blood cells, which help the body fight infection and are part of the immune system. In leukaemia, the white blood cells become abnormal and cannot fight infection as well. Leukaemia is the most common type of blood cancer in children.
- Lymphoma: This type of blood cancer affects the lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. Lymphocytes are found in the lymph nodes, spleen, and other parts of the lymphatic system. In lymphoma, the lymphocytes become abnormal and grow into tumours. Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer in adults.
- Myeloma: This type of blood cancer affects the plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies. In myeloma, the plasma cells become abnormal and produce too many antibodies. This can damage the kidneys and other organs. Myeloma is most common in old people.
Leukemia stands as the most prevalent form of blood cancer in India, representing over half of all cases, while Lymphoma and Myeloma have seen a concerning uptick in incidence in recent years.
Symptoms of blood cancer
The symptoms of blood cancer can vary depending on the type of cancer. However, some common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Pain in the bones or joints
- Pale skin
- Weight loss
Treatment for blood cancer
The treatment for blood cancer depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, and the patient’s overall health. Treatment options may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation.
Can blood cancer be prevented?
There is no known way to prevent blood cancer. However, there are some things that you can do to reduce your risk of developing the disease, such as:
Avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals, such as pesticides and benzene
- Eating a healthy diet
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Not smoking
A harsh reality is that only a handful of affected individuals have access to life-saving curative treatments, and receive the curative treatment of blood stem cell transplant.
Stem cell transplant – a ray of hope for blood cancer patients
Stem cell transplant is a promising treatment option for those battling blood cancer and blood-related disorders. This procedure involves the infusion of donor stem cells—either from a related or unrelated donor—to replace faulty blood cells. The objective is to reset the immune system and halt the progression of the disease.
To successfully carry out a blood stem cell transplant, it is crucial to obtain blood stem cells from an HLA-matched (Human Leukocyte Antigen) donor. When blood stem cells are obtained from a donor, they are infused into the patient via a transplant process. This infusion allows the stem cells to travel through the bloodstream and eventually find their way to the bone marrow, where they reside. These new blood stem cells increase in number and produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, replacing the patient’s diseased cells.
Also Read: Stem Cell Therapy – lifeline for Blood Cancer Patients in India
Only 30% of patients diagnosed with blood cancer or a blood disorder find a matching donor while the remaining 70% of the patients rely on the generosity of voluntary, unrelated stem cell donors. Ethnicity plays a significant role in finding a matching donor. Thus, the need for people of Indian ethnicity to register as stem cell donors is eminent as lakhs of patients await their lifesaving donors.
According to Patrick Paul, CEO of DKMS BMST Foundation India a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia, “Only 0.04% of Indians are registered as stem cell donors. This means the chances of a patient from this ethnic community finding a matching unrelated donor are one in a million. This leaves thousands of them on a waitlist for years as they cannot find donors, mostly due to the lack of their ethnic representation on the worldwide stem cell database.”
He further emphasizes, “To address this disparity and save more lives, it is crucial to register a larger number of potential stem cell donors from India. With a population of over 1.42 billion and a rising incidence of blood cancer, thalassemia, and aplastic anaemia, the need for Indian stem cell donors has never been greater.”
Also Read: Stem Cell Donation Saves a Bangladeshi Youth from Blood Cancer
DKMS BMST Foundation India aims to improve the situation of patients suffering from blood cancer and other blood disorders in India and throughout the world, by raising awareness about blood stem cell transplantation and registering potential blood stem cell donors. By doing this, DKMS-BMST provides patients in need of a blood stem cell transplant with a second chance at life.
DKMS-BMST is a joint venture of two reputed non-profit organizations: BMST (Bangalore Medical Services Trust) and DKMS, one of the largest international blood stem cell donor centres in the world.
To become a potential stem cell donor, one must be a healthy adult and a citizen of India between 18 and 55 years old.
