Table of contents:
- Common signs and symptoms of blood cancer
- 1. Blood is difficult to clot
- 2. Frequent bleeding and bruising
- 3. Prone to infection
- 4. Joint and bone pain
- 5. Anemia
- Other symptoms
- Diagnosis and treatment of blood cancer
There are many types of blood cancer. Therefore, the symptoms that appear may also vary depending on the type. Here are some of the most typical symptoms of blood cancer and must be watched out for.
Common signs and symptoms of blood cancer
Symptoms of blood cancer are basically difficult to recognize because they do not have distinctive characteristics. Even so, it is important to be aware of any body changes that you experience to help detect this disease.
Remember, the sooner you detect the symptoms of cancer, the sooner you get treatment so that the chances of a cure are also higher.
1. Blood is difficult to clot
Blood cancer occurs because cancer cells attack blood platelets which are essential for the blood clotting process. This is what makes people with blood cancer often experience bleeding.
Generally, if someone is injured, the blood that comes out will immediately clot and the blood flow will immediately stop. However, if the wounded and bleeding is a leukemia patient, the blood flow will be very difficult to stop.
When viewed, the blood that is removed is not dark red, but pink.
2. Frequent bleeding and bruising
Another common symptom of blood cancer is frequent bleeding and bruising in the body due to a lack of platelets. Platelets are cell fragments or cells that help blood to clot.
The low number of platelets in the body results in delayed blood clotting. Not infrequently, red or even purplish spots called petechiae appear due to minor bleeding within the skin.
3. Prone to infection
Blood cancer occurs because white blood cells develop abnormally. As a result, various kinds of germs that attack the body cannot be resisted by white blood cells. This makes the body susceptible to infection and frequent fever.
Generally, fever due to leukemia is common and lasts several days with a temperature increase of more than 38º Celsius.
4. Joint and bone pain
Furthermore, people with blood cancer usually often feel pain in the joints or in the spine. Even this excruciating pain can make sufferers experience high fever. Apart from pain in the joints and spine, people with blood cancer also often feel pain in the abdomen due to an enlarged liver or spleen.
5. Anemia
Anemia is a symptom of leukemia. Because anemia occurs because a person lacks red blood cells. Therefore, leukemia sufferers generally experience anemia which causes a person to experience shortness of breath, pale skin color, weakness, fatigue, and lethargy.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms of blood cancer are frequent nosebleeds, gum inflammation, nausea, fever, chills, headaches, decreased appetite, drastic weight loss, blood in the stool or vomiting, and excessive sweating at night.
Especially in women, blood cancer may also cause menstruation with excessive blood volume.
If you or someone closest to you experiences the symptoms above, it's a good idea to immediately check with a doctor. Especially if you experience symptoms that often recur and don't get better for a long time.
Diagnosis and treatment of blood cancer
In the early stages of treatment, doctors will generally ask about the symptoms you are experiencing. Then to make sure further, the doctor will perform a physical examination and laboratory examinations such as blood tests and biopsy by doing samples on the spinal cord.
Basically, blood cancer treatment will depend on the type experienced, the age of the patient, and the state of health. In order to get the most effective treatment, patients must receive intensive and centralized care where the treating doctors truly have experience and are trained in treating leukemia patients. Early treatment of leukemia will reduce a person's risk of developing advanced blood cancer.
