Blood Cancers occur when the production and function of the blood cells are affected. Most of these cancers start in the bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside large bones) where blood is produced. The stem cells in the bone marrow mature and develop into the three types of blood cells, the main components that make up the human blood – red blood cells that carry oxygen to all organs and tissues, white blood cells that fight infections, and platelets that help the blood to clot.
In most blood cancers, the normal blood cell development process is interrupted by uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell. These abnormal blood cells prevent the blood from performing many of its functions of either carrying oxygen or fighting infections or prevent serious bleeding.
There are three main types of Blood Cancers:
- LEUKAEMIA : A type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. For more information, read Leukaemia
- LYMPHOMA : A type of cancer that affects the Lymphatic System – the system that removes excess fluids from the body and produces immune cells called Lymphocytes. For more information, read Lymphoma
- MYELOMA : A type of cancer of the plasma cells – a type of white blood cells that produce disease- and infection-fighting antibodies in the body. For more information, read Myeloma