Marrow, the sponge-like material inside your bones, is what gives your bone its structural integrity. Stem cells, located deep in the marrow, develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
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What is Hematopoietic Cancer?
Hematopoietic cancer occurs when the cells in the marrow start to grow abnormally or at a quicker pace. Hematopoietic cancer can be called bone marrow cancer or blood cancer.
Many types of cancer can spread to your bone or bone marrow, but that does not necessarily mean that it is hematopoietic or bone marrow cancer.
Types of Hematopoietic cancer
Multiple myeloma
This is the most common type of hematopoietic cancer. Multiple myeloma starts in the plasma cells. These are cells that produce antibodies that help to defend your body from harmful or dangerous disease-causing microorganisms. When your body begins to produce too many plasma cells, tumors start to form. This can weaken your body’s defense against infections and can even lead to bone loss.
Leukemia
Leukemia is normally concerned with white blood cells. Normally, your body produces cells that eventually die off to be replaced by new ones. In the case of leukemia, your body produces abnormal blood cells which do not die off as they should.
As their numbers grow larger, they swarm normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, interfering with their normal activities and functions. Acute leukemia is concerned with immature blood cells known as blasts. The symptoms of acute leukemia progress quickly; chronic leukemia involves mature blood cells, symptoms are light, and you may not know you have had it for years.
Lymphoma
This begins to form in the lymph nodes or the bone marrow. Generally, there are two major types of lymphoma. The first is Hodgkin’s lymphoma; this only starts in specific B lymphocytes. The other, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, starts in B or T lymphocytes. Under this are man subtypes. In cases of lymphoma, lymphocytes grow abnormally and out of control, thereby weakening your immune system.
Causes of hematopoietic cancer
Scientists still aren’t sure what causes hematopoietic or bone marrow cancer, but some factors which could contribute are:
- Toxic chemicals, fuels, chemicals in cleaning materials, engine exhaust.
- Radiation exposure.
- Some viruses, e.g., HIV, hepatitis, etc.
- Genetic disorder.
- Family history of hematopoietic cancer.
- Smoking.
- Obesity.
- Plasma disorder.
- Suppressed immune system.
Symptoms of hematopoietic cancer
Some symptoms of multiple myeloma include:
- Tiredness and fatigue due to a shortage of red blood cells.
- Drowsiness.
- Extreme thirst.
- Urinating frequently.
- High levels of calcium.
- Abdominal pain.
- Kidney failure.
Some symptoms of leukemia are:
- Fever.
- Weakness and fatigue.
- Sudden weight loss.
- Severe infections.
- Excessive sweating.
- Bone pain.
- Frequent nose bleeds.
- Enlarged liver or spleen.
- Little red dots or markings on the skin.
- Night sweats.
Some symptoms of lymphoma are:
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Chest or lower back pain.
- Low energy.
- Frequent itching.
- Numbness and tingling.
- Nerve pain.
- Feeling full in the stomach.
- Swelling in arm, neck, leg, or groin.
Treatment for hematopoietic cancer
Treatment for hematopoietic cancer depends on a lot of things. These may be your age, what type of hematopoietic cancer you have, how fast it progresses and has spread to other sections of the body? However, a cd43 antibody will help with cell adhesion and antiadhesion, which are important factors in cancer treatment.
Advancement in IT has made it possible to treat many types of hematopoietic cancer. Some common treatments are:
Chemotherapy
Anticancer drugs are administered through the vein or in pills to stop or even kill the production of cancer cells.
Radiation therapy
This treatment is done using a high-energy laser to kill cancer cells in the body.
Targeted therapies
This cancer treatment uses drugs that kill only bad cancer cells, leaving the good blood cells unharmed.
Stem cell transplantation
Healthy and strong stem cells can be administered into your body to help resume regular production following therapy to kill cancer cells.
Cancer surgery
Surgery can be done as treatment to remove affected lymph nodes to treat some lymphomas.
Immunotherapy
This treatment activates the immune system to kill cancer cells.
Final words.
If you have been diagnosed with hematopoietic cancer, you are probably worried and concerned. But do not panic as the first thing you should do is ask your doctor and get as many details about cancer as possible. Ask for as much clarification as possible. Open communication with your doctor will help you to choose the best treatment.
