Blood cancer is a type of cancer that affects the blood cells, bone marrow, or lymphatic system. Blood cancers occur when abnormal blood cells grow out of control, interfering with the function of normal blood cells, which fight off infection and produce new blood cells. There are three main types of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.

• Leukemia: This is a blood cancer that originates in the blood and bone marrow. It occurs when the body creates too many abnormal white blood cells and interferes with the bone marrow’s ability to make red blood cells and platelets.

• Lymphoma: This is a blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system from cells called lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections. Abnormal lymphocytes become lymphoma cells, which multiply and collect in your lymph nodes and other tissues. Over time, these cancerous cells impair your immune system.

• Myeloma: This is a blood cancer that begins in the blood’s plasma cells, a type of white blood cell made in the bone marrow. Myeloma cells prevent the normal production of antibodies, which can lead to an increased risk of infections.

Blood cancers are caused by mutations in the DNA within blood cells, which cause the blood cells to start behaving abnormally. In almost all cases, these changes are linked to things we can’t control, and they happen during a person’s lifetime, so they are not genetic faults that can be passed down to children. Symptoms and treatment can be different between children and adults.

Symptoms of blood cancer can vary depending on the type of cancer, but some common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, fever, weight loss, and easy bruising or bleeding. Treatment for blood cancer depends on the type and stage of the cancer, as well as the patients age and overall health. Treatment options may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.