Blood Cancers

Blood cancers (haematological malignancies) arise from blood cells and the tissues that produce them, rather than forming a solid tumour. The three main groups are leukaemias (cancers of white blood cells), lymphomas (cancers of the lymphatic system, divided into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin types), and multiple myeloma (a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow). They affect both children and adults, and many are highly treatable.

Common signs and symptoms

• Persistent fatigue, paleness, or breathlessness
• Frequent or prolonged infections and fevers
• Easy bruising or unusual bleeding
• Painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin
• Drenching night sweats or unexplained weight loss
• Bone pain, particularly in the back (in myeloma)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis typically involves blood counts and peripheral smear, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, lymph node biopsy for lymphomas, and specialised tests such as flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular studies that identify the precise subtype — which directly determines treatment.

Treatment

Unlike many solid tumours, blood cancers are treated primarily with systemic (drug-based) therapy, making them centrally the domain of the medical oncologist / haemato-oncologist. Treatment may include:

• Chemotherapy — often given in defined cycles as curative-intent treatment
• Targeted therapy — such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies matched to the disease subtype
• Immunotherapy — including antibody-based treatments
• Referral for stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation — where indicated

Many blood cancers, including several leukaemias and lymphomas, can be cured with modern treatment, and timely diagnosis and subtype-specific therapy are key.