Types of Blood Cancer

Blood cancers affect blood cells and bone marrow -- the spongy tissue inside your bones where blood cells are made. These cancers change the way blood cells behave and how well they work.

You have three types of blood cells:

• White blood cells fight infection as part of your immune system.
• Red blood cells carry oxygen to your body's tissues and organs and bring carbon dioxide to your lungs so you can breathe it out.
• Platelets help your blood clot when you're injured.

There are three major types of blood cancer:

• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Myeloma

These cancers cause your bone marrow and lymphatic system to make blood cells that don't work as well as they should. They all affect different types of white blood cells, and they act in different ways.

Leukemia

People who have leukemia make a lot of white blood cells that can't fight infections. Leukemia is divided into four types based on the kind of white blood cell it affects and whether it grows quickly (acute) or slowly (chronic).

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). This starts with white blood cells called lymphocytes in bone marrow. People with ALL make too many lymphocytes that crowd out healthy white blood cells. ALL can advance quickly if it's not treated.

It’s the most common type of childhood cancer. Children ages 3 to 5 are most likely to get it, but adults over age 75 can get ALL, too.

You're more likely to get it if you:

• Have a brother or sister with ALL
• Were treated with chemotherapy or radiation for another type of cancer in the past
• Have been near a lot of radiation
• Have Down syndrome or another genetic disorder

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This starts in myeloid cells, which normally grow into white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. AML lowers the number of healthy blood cells in all three types. This form of leukemia grows quickly.

AML mainly affects people over age 65. It's more common in men than women.

You're chances of getting it are higher if you:

• Have been treated with chemotherapy or radiation for cancer
• Have been around toxic chemicals like benzene
• Smoke
• Have a blood disorder like myelodysplasia or polycythemia vera, or a genetic disorder like Down syndrome

Lymphoma

This is a cancer of the lymph system. This network of vessels includes your lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus gland. The vessels store and carry white blood cells to help your body fight infections.

Lymphomas start in white blood cells called lymphocytes. There are two main types of lymphoma:

• Hodgkin's lymphoma starts in immune cells called B lymphocytes, or B cells. These cells make proteins called antibodies that fight off germs. People with Hodgkin's lymphoma have large lymphocytes called Reed-Sternberg cells in their lymph nodes.
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma starts in B cells or in another type of immune cell called a T cell. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common than Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Both types are divided into a few subtypes. The subtypes are based on where in the body the cancer started and how it behaves.

People who have weak immune systems are more likely to get lymphoma. Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus, HIV, or Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria also raises your chances.

Lymphoma is most often diagnosed in people ages 15 to 35 and over age 50.

Myeloma

This is a cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that makes antibodies.

Myeloma cells spread through the bone marrow. They can damage your bones and crowd out healthy blood cells. These cells also make antibodies that can't fight off infections.

This cancer is often called multiple myeloma because it's found in many parts of your bone marrow.

Men over age 50 are most likely to get it, and African-Americans have higher odds of it than other people.

Your chances are also higher if you:

• Have close relatives with myeloma
• Are obese
• Have spent a lot of time around radiation

Read more on: cancer, lymphoma