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DOHA: Though there are no clear factors that cause blood cancer, genetic disorders, environmental reasons and low immunity can increase the chances of developing the disease, says an expert.
“Due to the introduction of new, more effective treatment and sophisticated therapies, survival rates for most types of blood cancer have improved,” said Dr Haleema Al Umeri, Senior Consultant, Hematology Department at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR).
“There are three big groups of blood cancer as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Blood cancer can occur to a person at any age at any time. There is no clear cause of blood cancer but there is some risk factors such as genetic disorders, low immunity levels and environmental factors like viral infection, chemical exposure and radiation. Majority of blood cancer patients present symptoms after the disease has developed and in need of urgent treatment,” she said.
During August, HMC raises awareness of blood cancer and educates the public about the risk factors, warning signs and the importance of prevention, and also encourages people to get tested and adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk. Cancer affecting the production and function of blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system . These types of cancer starts in the bone marrow where the blood is produced.
As part of the campaign Al Umeri has spoken about the symptoms and types of blood cancer. It was published on HMC’s Facebook page. While HMC has published several other information related to blood cancer separately on its official website.
According to Dr Al Umeri Dr frequent infections, loss of appetite or nausea, night sweats, persistent weakness and fatigue, shortness of breath, swollen, painless lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin are common symptoms of blood cancer. Drug therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, immunotherapy and gene therapy are treatment methods available for blood cancer.
While, leukemia, which is a group of cancers of the bone marrow caused by overproduction of white cells, is the most common cancer among children in Qatar.
Qatar National Cancer Registry (QNCR) in 2015 revealed that leukemia counted for 46.3 percent of all pediatric cancers, followed by brain cancer. In 2020, more than one million new blood cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed globally.
