Introduction to Blood Cancer

Executive Summary

Blood cancer, also known as hematologic cancer, initiates in the bone marrow, where the blood is produced. It mainly occurs due to the abnormal growth of the blood cells, and it further interrupts the functioning of the normal blood cells that fight against the infection and produces new blood cells. It is a type of malignant disorder. A total of three blood components are evolved from the redbone marrow, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. After the cell death, the cells are replaced with new cells that help the body function and grow. If the cells get mutated, it results in causing blood cancer. Blood cancers are not considered to be genetic diseases. However, individuals with smoking, radiation exposure, and chemicals such as benzene are at high risk for blood cancer.

What is Blood Cancer?

Blood Cancer is a group of malignant disorders with blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow lowering the body’s ability to fight infection ​1​. The Redbone marrow consists of blood stem cells, which gives us about three components in the blood.

The white blood cells: These cells are a part of the immune system and fight infection. 

The Red blood cells: Carry oxygen to the whole body and help carry out carbon dioxide. 

The Platelets: They help the blood clot in the event of Injury 

The human body is made up of cells, and each cell has a DNA of its own. Usually, when the cell dies, It’s replaced with a new partition, which helps the body function and grows. If the DNA of a blood cell has a defect and does not die, it may or may not develop or mutate itself, leading to Blood Cancer ​2​. Blood cancers are not always the diseases that can be passed down to children because they can happen anytime in a person’s lifetime. However, people with smoking, radiation exposure, and chemicals such as benzene are at high risk for blood cancer. 

References

  1. 1.
    Chan G, Neel BG. Bad neighbours cause bad blood. Nature. Published online October 26, 2016:173-175. doi:10.1038/nature19479
  2. 2.
    Chang TY, Dvorak CC, Loh ML. Bedside to bench in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia: insights into leukemogenesis from a rare pediatric leukemia. Blood. Published online October 16, 2014:2487-2497. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-03-300319