Blood Cancer Symptoms And Tests
Cancer is a disease due to which about 10 million people die every year. It is the second leading cause of deaths. There are many types of cancer, one of them is blood cancer, which is also known as hematological cancer. As soon as the name of blood cancer comes to mind, the first thing that comes to mind is death! But if you become aware of this disease, it can be avoided with the help of treatment. In such a situation, Dr. Vigyan Mishra, head of lab at Newberg Diagnostics, Noida, is telling how to recognize the symptoms of this disease and which tests should be done to detect blood cancer.
These symptoms start appearing when there is blood cancer:
Fatigue: Persistent fatigue is one of the earliest and most common symptoms of blood cancer. This fatigue is often severe and does not improve with rest.
Frequent infections: Blood cancer weakens the immune system, leading to frequent infections. Patients may find themselves susceptible to frequent colds, flu, or other infections.
Bruises easily: Bruising easily, frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums can be early symptoms of blood cancer. This happens due to lack of platelets.
Enlarged lymph nodes: Enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the neck, armpits, or groin, may be a sign of lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
Fever and night sweats: Fever and night sweats without any reason are also early symptoms of blood cancer. These symptoms often come and go and may not be linked to any obvious infection.
Get these tests done to detect blood cancer:
CBC Test (Complete Blood Count): When blood cancer is suspected, Dr. Shabe first recommends getting a CBC test done. The CBC test measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood.
Bone Marrow Biopsy: These tests help to find out whether cancer or any other disease is affecting the blood cells or marrow. It also shows how serious the disease is. In bone marrow biopsy, the test is done by inserting a needle into the hip bone. This test is important for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
Flow cytometry: This test analyzes the physical or chemical properties of cells in a blood or bone marrow sample. It helps in identifying cancer cells on their surface, which helps in diagnosis.
Imaging Tests: In imaging tests, the parts of the body where lymph nodes are enlarged are tested. In this test, X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan or PET scan can be used to check for tumors or other signs of blood cancer.
Cytogenetic Testing: In this test, a person’s blood, tissue, and bone marrow are analyzed to identify genetic abnormalities.
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