Malignant hematologic conditions, or blood cancers, are diseases that originate in the blood or blood-forming tissues, such as the red blood cells or bone marrow. While these conditions have some features in common, they also can have quite different signs and symptoms – and different effects on your body.
To help you understand the early warning signs of a blood cancer, Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) discusses the most common symptoms for various malignant hematologic conditions.
Hematologists treat both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) disorders of the blood and blood-forming tissues. Benign blood disorders include anemia, hemochromatosis, thrombocytopenia, bleeding disorders, and blood clotting disorders. Meanwhile, common malignant blood disorders include:
Leukemia begins in blood-forming tissues in bone marrow and throughout the lymphatic system. It causes blood cells to grow uncontrollably, affecting healthy blood cells and diminishing the number of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. Acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia are the most common types.
Lymphoma is a blood cancer that begins in the white blood cells of the immune system. Types of lymphoma include Hodgkin, non-Hodgkin, high-grade non-Hodgkin, and small lymphocytic lymphoma. Within non-Hodgkin lymphoma, there are two subtypes — mature B-cell neoplasms and mature T-cell neoplasms.
Multiple myeloma develops in the plasma cells of bone marrow. These white blood cells are integral to the body’s efforts to fight infections. Multiple myeloma is characterized by the growth and spread of abnormal plasma cells and may diminish red blood cell counts and damage bones, the kidneys, and the immune system.
Also called white blood cell disorders, myeloid disorders occur when the body produces an unusual amount of white blood cells.
Myeloproliferative neoplasms occur when the body generates too many blood cells. MPNs are often chronic.
Each malignant blood disorder is characterized by specific symptoms. Some symptoms, however, are common in many types of blood cancers. These include:
Several blood cancers cause a drop in red blood cell count. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that helps transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body. If the body does not get enough oxygen, the tissues and muscles lack needed energy, and fatigue and weakness can result. This tiredness persists despite getting adequate sleep. Fatigue and weakness render some people too weary to engage in daily activities, and concurrent headaches and faintness may occur.
People with malignant blood disorders may have frequent episodes of fever. Chills may also be common with hematologic conditions.
Night sweats are bouts of excessive sweating that occur while sleeping. Patients may wake up to find their sheets and clothes drenched in sweat and may have trouble sleeping. Individuals with leukemia or lymphoma might experience night sweats.
Shortness of breath is another potential symptom of leukemia. Patients may feel breathless even when sitting or lying down, or feel lightheaded. Shortness of breath may contribute to fatigue and weakness.
Some malignant blood disorders cause excessive bleeding and bruising. For example, these symptoms are common in leukemia.
Low white blood cell counts impair the immune system’s ability to fight infections. These infections, aside from being more persistent, may also be more severe. Coughing, sore throat, and other flu-like symptoms might occur.
Mouth ulcers – one or more painful sores on the inner lips, gums, tongue, roof of the mouth, or throat – may occur with leukemia or lymphoma, or due to treatment of those diseases.
Rashes can result from low platelet levels. Two types of rashes frequently caused by blood disorders are petechiae, small red blood spots that appear under the skin because of broken blood vessels, and purpura, purple rashes that develop when blood collects under the skin. Itching or burning might occur with lymphoma, but the reason for this is not fully understood.
Many blood cancers can impair appetite. Alternatively, other symptoms of the cancer or its treatment, such as nausea or constipation, can affect appetite.
The severity of appetite loss varies; some patients eat more modestly less than before while others do not wish to eat at all. More severe instances of appetite loss may result in cachexia, a “wasting” syndrome marked by loss of skeletal muscle and fat and extreme fatigue.
Some blood cancers may cause abnormal white blood cells to accumulate in the lymph glands. Lumps and swelling typically occur on the neck, armpits, and groin areas. These growths may ache at times. Swelling and lumps also might develop inside the body, pressing on organs and causing pain.
Blood cancers may impact the body’s metabolism by decreasing fat and muscle mass. A loss of appetite may also cause weight loss. Weight loss that does not coincide with recent changes in diet and exercise could signal a cancer of the blood – although this is only one of many potential causes.
Malignant blood disorders that originate in the bone marrow may cause damage and discomfort to the bones and joints. Leukemia and myeloma are two conditions where bone and joint pain are common.
Similarly, if abnormal blood cells accumulate in the spleen, a person may experience abdominal pain.
Other signs and symptoms that may signal blood cancer or another hematologic condition include:
Of course, many of these symptoms can arise from a wide variety of conditions. However, they should be brought to the attention of a physician.
The medical oncologists and hematologists of RCCA offer patients with blood cancers a broad range of cutting-edge, evidence-based treatments, including:
Chemotherapy involves use of powerful medications to attack and kill cancer cells or prevent them from spreading. When tumors are present, chemotherapy can reduce their size, which may also alleviate pain and other symptoms. Chemotherapy may be administered orally or intravenously.
Like chemotherapy, targeted therapy uses drugs to attack cancer cells or disrupt their function and reproduction. However, these medications specifically affect malignant cells – typically by binding to receptors on their surface — while leaving healthy cells intact.
Immunotherapy enhances the immune system to empower it to attack cancer cells. Types of immunotherapy include vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, T-cell therapy, and checkpoint inhibitors.
Infusion therapy occurs when patients receive medication intravenously. Various therapies involve infusion therapy, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Blood and marrow transplantation involves injecting new white or red blood cells or platelets into the bloodstream to replace lost stem cells in the bone marrow. Stem-cell transplantation may complement other treatments.
Radiation therapy uses powerful, high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or impede their growth.
RCCA offers clinical trials for several blood disorders, including leukemia and multiple myeloma.
RCCA has 22 community-based locations throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, DC area. RCCA oncologists and hematologists see more than 26,000 new patients each year and provide care to more than 245,000 established patients, collaborating closely with their patients’ other physicians.
Contact RCCA to learn more about blood cancer symptoms and treatment for benign and malignant blood disorders, or request an appointment at a nearby location.
For more information or to schedule an appointment,
call 844-346-7222. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you.
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