Around 16,000 people die from blood cancer every year in the UK, making it the third biggest cancer killer – but what are the signs and symptoms of the devastating disease?
There are more than 100 different types of blood cancer, with most being variations of leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, but they can also include myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), explains Blood Cancer UK.
All cases of blood cancer are caused by mutations in DNA within blood cells, causing the cells to start behaving abnormally. Warning signs of the disease can be hard to spot as symptoms are often vague, but early diagnosis is vital to ensure better treatment outcomes.
According to Blood Cancer UK, there are 11 common red flags to watch out for. These include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
- Lumps or swellings
- Breathlessness
- Drenching night sweats
- Infections that are persistent, recurrent or severe
- Unexplained fever (37.5°C or above)
- Unexplained rash or itchy skin
- Pain in your bones, joints or abdomen
- Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest or sleep
- Paleness (pallor) – the skin under your lower eyelid looks white rather than pink.
One in 19 people will develop blood cancer, so if you have just one symptom that you can’t explain, book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible. If you suddenly feel very unwell at any time, get medical help straight away by calling 999 or going to A&E.
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Who is at risk of blood cancer?
It is not fully understood why someone will develop blood cancer, but the disease has been associated with genetic and environmental factors. Yale Medicine explains that smoking, radiation exposure, and exposure to certain chemicals have all been linked to increased risk of some types of blood cancers.
The health site writes: “Epstein-Barr virus, HIV and human T-cell lymphoma/leukaemia virus infections are also risk factors for developing lymphomas and leukaemias.”
What is the difference between blood cancer and leukaemia?
Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects blood cells in the bone marrow, usually white blood cells. Leukaemia occurs when the body creates too many abnormal white blood cells and interferes with the bone marrow’s ability to make red blood cells and platelets. Blood cancer, meanwhile, is caused by changes in the DNA within blood cells.
Blood Cancer Awareness month
As part of Blood Cancer Awareness month – which takes place every September – Blood Cancer UK have urged people to break the silence surrounding blood cancer by saying its name. In a campaign video, those with lived experience – alongside actor Stephen Fry – encourage people with blood cancer to qualify that their individual condition is a type of blood cancer, to help raise crucial awareness.
Stephen said: “76% people aren’t told what they have is blood cancer when they’re diagnosed, they end up finding out on google or not at all. And they’re missing out on being part of a supportive community. And that’s why I’m asking when you’re speaking about these conditions to say blood cancer.”
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People with experience of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, chronic myeloid leukaemia, and those MPNs are all featured in the film. Aimee Togher, 23, is one of the faces of the campaign and was just 22 when she found a lump on her neck, she was later diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin-lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
She said: “Getting a blood cancer diagnosis was a complete shock. Not everyone gets told this. Many people don’t know what blood cancer actually is. It isn’t just one cancer – it’s so many different types. I was lucky that I knew lymphoma was a type of cancer. The ‘c word’ was never actually mentioned by my doctor. We need to spread awareness of blood cancer, what it is, who’s affected by it, so that we can bring people together.”
Aimee has five tumours in three places, with one being over 5 cm and close to her heart and lungs, which makes treatment riskier. She’s now completed intensive chemotherapy. “I wasted summers stressing over how big my arms looked in vest tops, if my hair and skin looked greasy and now, I’m living with the side effects of chemotherapy, blood cancer is humbling,” she said.
“The road to recovery is far from easy, but with unwavering determination and the support of loved ones, I’ve taken each step with the hope of better days.”
Helen Rowntree, Chief Executive of Blood Cancer UK said: “Few realise that blood cancer is amongst the top five most prevalent cancers in the UK, and even fewer know that leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are all types of blood cancer. By breaking the silence, raising awareness, we hold the power to reduce the harm blood cancer causes. Let us unite to make a difference in the lives of those battling these conditions.”