Body Revival

Fight blood cancer with Immunotherapy

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Exciting things are happening in medicine. Immunotherapy, a new disease treatment, is changing how we fight blood cancer. Blood cancer is a group of serious illnesses that affect our blood, bones, and a part of our body called the lymphatic system.

 

Understanding Blood Cancer

Cancer is an umbrella term for various types of diseases. Blood cancer is a specific type of cancer that affects our blood cells, causing them to multiply rapidly and interfere with daily tasks. Blood cancers are classified into two main types: leukaemia and lymphoma. Myeloma is another form of blood cancer.

 

Types of blood cancer

Blood cancer, also known as hematologic cancer, contains several different types. The categories are:

 

 

  1. Leukemia: Leukemia starts in the bone marrow and affects the production of blood cells. It can be classified into several types, including:
  1. Lymphoma: Lymphoma originates in the lymphatic system, which includes the lymph nodes, spleen, and other parts of the immune system. There are two main types:

     3. Myeloma: Myeloma targets plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies.

 

Symptoms and causes of Blood cancer

  1. Genetic Mutations: Changes in the DNA within blood cells can lead to abnormal cell growth and division. These genetic mutations can be inherited or acquired over time.
  2. Exposure to Radiation: Prolonged exposure to high levels of radiation, such as medical radiation treatments, nuclear accidents, or certain occupational exposures.
  3. Chemical Exposure: Exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene and some pesticides.
  4. Certain Viral Infections: Some viral infections, like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV-1).
  5. Previous Cancer Treatments: Some treatments for other cancers, such as radiation therapy and certain chemotherapy drugs, can increase the risk of developing blood cancer later in life.
  6. Age: The risk of blood cancer increases with age, as older individuals have a higher likelihood of developing genetic mutations over time.

Symptoms of blood cancer can vary depending on the specific type of blood cancer and its stage. However, there are some common symptoms that individuals with blood cancer may experience:

 

 

  1. Fatigue: Persistent and unexplained tiredness or weakness is a common symptom of blood cancer.
  2. Frequent Infections: It can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections that may occur more frequently or take longer to resolve.
  3. Unexplained Weight Loss: Sudden and unexplained weight loss, especially if it happens without changes in diet or exercise.
  4. Easy Bruising or Bleeding: Blood cancers can interfere with the body’s ability to produce normal blood cells, leading to easy bruising, bleeding gums, or nosebleeds.
  5. Swollen Lymph Nodes: Enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the neck, armpit, or groin.
  6. Night Sweats: Excessive sweating during the night, unrelated to the environment or temperature.
  7. Bone Pain: Bone pain, which may be dull or sharp and is often worse at night.
  8. Shortness of Breath: Breathlessness or difficulty breathing may occur due to anaemia (low red blood cell count).
  9. Paleness: Pale skin and paler-than-usual nail beds.

Immunotherapy: A game changer

Immunotherapy is a fresh approach to battling cancer. Unlike older treatments that harm both – healthy and cancerous cells, it leverages our body’s defence system to target only the harmful cells. This is done through tools like specific antibodies, cancer vaccines, and T-cell therapy, which strengthen our body’s immune forces against cancer. This approach aids in defeating cancer while preserving our body’s healthy components.

 

How Immunotherapy Helps in Blood Cancer

Immunotherapy is highly effective in fighting blood cancer because it enhances our immune system’s ability to locate and combat cancer cells more effectively. This is the reason doctors have started choosing immunotherapy as a treatment method for many different types of cancer.

Imagine monoclonal antibodies as tiny markers that attach to cancer cells, signaling our body to eliminate them. CAR T-cell therapy modifies our cells to actively fight against cancer. These treatments are revolutionising cancer care, when conventional methods show limited results.

 

Conclusion

In the medical world, immunotherapy gives hope to people fighting blood cancer. Knowing the types, signs, and causes of blood cancer is important for finding it early. We’re entering a new phase in cancer treatment, where immunotherapy could change how we see blood cancer.

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