Overview & Definition
Blood cancers (hematological malignancies) affect the production and function of blood cells, originating in the bone marrow or lymphatic system. They prevent blood cells from fighting infection or controlling bleeding.
Types & Classification
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Chronic Lymphocytic / Myeloid Leukemia (CLL / CML)
- Hodgkin’s & Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma & Plasma Cell Disorders
Underlying Causes & Risk Factors
- Genetic mutations and chromosomal translocations
- Exposure to industrial chemicals (Benzene) or radiation
- Prior chemotherapy treatment
- Immune system suppression or viral infections
Common Symptoms & Warning Signs
Diagnostic Evaluation
Accurate diagnosis requires comprehensive laboratory investigation under expert hematological supervision:
- 🔍 Peripheral Blood Smear & Complete Blood Count
- 🔍 Bone Marrow Aspiration, Biopsy & Cytogenetics
- 🔍 Flow Cytometry Immunophenotyping & FISH Testing
- 🔍 PET-CT Scan & Lymph Node Biopsy
- 🔍 Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP) & Free Light Chains
Treatment Options & Clinical Management
- 💊 Induction, Consolidation & Maintenance Chemotherapy Protocols – tailored intensity regimens to achieve deep molecular remission.
- 💊 Targeted Molecular Therapy – includes Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (Imatinib, Dasatinib) for Ph+ leukemias, BTK inhibitors (Acalabrutinib) for CLL, and BCL-2 inhibitors (Venetoclax).
- 💊 Immunotherapy & Monoclonal Antibodies – targeted antibodies (Rituximab for CD20+ lymphoma, Daratumumab for CD38+ multiple myeloma).
- 💊 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (Autologous & Allogeneic) – consolidative curative therapy for high-risk or relapsed disease.
- 💊 CAR-T Cell Therapy – genetically engineered T-cell therapy indicated for select relapsed or refractory B-cell leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma.
Frequently Asked Questions
Early warning signs include persistent unexplained fatigue, recurrent fever, drenching night sweats, painless lymph node swelling (neck, armpit, groin), unexplained weight loss, bone pain, easy bruising, or frequent infections.
Diagnosis is established through complete blood counts, peripheral blood smear evaluation, bone marrow aspiration & biopsy, multi-color flow cytometry, cytogenetics (FISH), and targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) gene panels.