Blood cancer awareness month: Doctor breaks down symptoms and care options

Every September, Blood Cancer Awareness Month is observed to educate people, celebrate survivors, and support those currently battling leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. The goal is simple: spread knowledge about early warning signs, treatment options, and the importance of regular health checkups. Hospitals, charities, and communities host events, fundraisers, and online campaigns to raise awareness. Wearing red, sharing survivor stories, or simply talking about the disease helps break the stigma and gets more people involved. For many, it’s a reminder to pay attention to their health and support loved ones fighting blood cancers. Whether you know someone affected or just want to learn more, this month encourages everyone to take small steps that can make a big difference.Blood cancer isn’t just one disease, it’s a group of cancers affecting your blood, bone marrow, or lymphatic system. The most common types are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. These cancers can interfere with how your blood cells grow and work, leaving you tired, weak, or prone to infections. Symptoms like unexplained bruising, persistent fatigue, or frequent fevers shouldn’t be ignored. Early detection can make a big difference, so regular checkups and paying attention to your body matter. Early diagnosis can improve the treatment options and outcomes. We at TOI spoke to Dr. Nitin Agarwal, MD-Transfusion Medicine, HOD of Donor Request Management at DKMS Foundation, about blood cancer, the various symptoms seen in patients, how to identify it early, and the common treatment options available.Some common symptoms include persistent fatigue and recurring infections. If the patient is experiencing recurrent fever, unexplained weight loss, bone pain, and night sweats without any underlying conditions, this is a potential sign of worry. Other symptoms are prolonged bleeding and swelling of lymph nodes.A bone marrow biopsy is sufficient to confirm if the patient has abnormal blood counts, and therefore is diagnosed with leukaemia. If the lymph nodes are enlarged, a diagnosis can be confirmed through lymph node biopsy and imaging, indicating whether the patient is suffering from lymphoma. In the case of patients with multiple myeloma, they have abnormal proteins in the blood or urine, and this medical condition is confirmed with a bone marrow test, along with imaging for bone lesions. Some commonly known risk factors include genetic mutations, family history of cancer incidence, and immune disorders. Other sets of risks include lifestyle factors like smoking, obesity, and chronic stress, which have the potential to increase vulnerability to the diseases. If the patient has been exposed to chemotherapy or radiation therapy previously, and chemical exposure, they are at risk of developing blood cancer. When an individual observes the early symptoms discussed above persists for a long time, the best step forward is to seek early detection and medical intervention. This significantly helps achieve better outcomes. Some of the useful tests that help in early interventions include complete blood counts, peripheral blood smears, bone marrow biopsies, and imaging or biomarker studies.The treatment options depend on the cancer type and the stage the patient is suffering from. Factors such as the patient's genetic profile, age, and overall medical history aid in the treatment process. Standard treatment options are chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. If the treating doctor recommends a blood stem cell transplant, then it is one of the potential treatments for the patient to have a second chance at life!