Blood Cancer Awareness

Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are hematologic cancers - meaning they are cancers of the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes). Every year, more than 100,000 cases of blood, bone marrow, and lymph node cancers are diagnosed in the United States, and more than 50,000 people die from these cancers.

Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. The American Cancer Society estimates 47,150 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in 2012. Symptoms may include fatigue, paleness and weight loss, repeated infections, fever, bruising easily, and nosebleeds or other hemorrhages. Acute cases can appear suddenly, whereas chronic leukemia can progress slowly with few symptoms and be diagnosed during routine blood tests. Among children and teens less than 20 years old, leukemia is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death.

One known risk factor for leukemia is the chemical benzene. It is found in gasoline and in cigarette smoke. Children with Down syndrome and certain other genetic abnormalities also have a higher-than-average rate of leukemia diagnosis.

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. It is classified as Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin, depending on the disease's behavior within the body. It is estimated that 70,130 new cases of non-Hodgkin and 9,060 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma will be diagnosed this year.

Symptoms of lymphoma include swollen lymph nodes, itching, night sweats, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and intermittent fever. Like most cancers, the risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma increases as we age. However, the opposite is true for Hodgkin lymphoma, with the risk being higher during adolescence and early adulthood.

For more information on blood cancers, visit the CDC website. 

If you are a blood cancer patient or survivor, join us for a monthly support group at the Hope Cancer Resources office on the 2nd Tuesday evening of every month. Contact Lisa Manzini-Pace, LCSW, for more information at 479-361-5847.

*Information for this article was gathered from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the American Cancer Society.

Cancers of the Blood

Two different cancers are frequently lumped together when we're talking about "blood cancers". Leukemia and Lymphoma develop differently, and have different lists of symptoms, but both involve the blood.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 44,600 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in 2011. It's a cancer of the bone marrow and blood, and there are four groups based on cell type: acute lymphocytic (ALL), chronic lymphocytic (CLL), acute myeloid (AML), and chronic myeloid (CML). Three-quarters of children and adolescents diagnosed with leukemia have ALL. Although we tend to hear a lot about children with leukemia, 90% of leukemia cases are actually diagnosed in adults 20 years of age or older. For them, the most common diagnoses are AML and CLL.

Symptoms of leukemia include:

• fatigue
• paleness
• weight loss
• repeated infections
• fever
• bruising easily
• nosebleeds or other hemorrhages

In acute leukemia, these symptoms may show up suddenly, while chronic leukemia may progress more slowly and show very few symptoms. It's often diagnosed with a routine blood test.

There are several risk factors known to cause higher incidences of leukemia. Medical radiation, such as that used in cancer treatment, and even some chemotherapy, have been linked to the disease. Genetic abnormalities such as those that cause Down syndrome have been found to increase risk as well. Some recent studies have suggested a link between leukemia and obesity. Family history remains one of the most significant risk factors for CLL, while cigarette smoking and exposure to certain chemicals such as benzene (found in gasoline and cigarette smoke) are risk factors for AML.

It is estimated that 75,190 new cases of lymphoma will be diagnosed this year. It's a cancer of the lymphocytes, or white blood cells. There are two types of lymphoma - Hodgkin (also called Hodgkin's Disease) and Non-Hodgkin. Non-Hodgkin (NHL) is the most common, with 66,630 predicted cases in 2011. Within NHL, there are a wide variety of subtypes.

Symptoms of lymphoma include:

• swollen lymph nodes
• itching
• night sweats
• fatigue
• unexplained weight loss
• intermittent fever

The risk of developing NHL increases with age, as does the risk of most cancers. The risk of developing Hodgkin, on the other hand, is highest in adolescents and young adults. The cause of lymphoma is unknown in most cases, although a few factors associated with altered immune function have been identified. People who receive organ transplants are at greater risk due to the required immune suppressing medications they have to take to prevent rejection of their transplant. Also, people with HIV and human T-cell leukemia virus type I have a higher risk factor. As with many other cancers, a family history of lymphoma carries a slightly higher risk, as do occupational and environmental exposures to certain chemicals.

Be aware of your risk, and discuss any unusual physical symptoms with your doctor. Since these cancers affect children, be sure to listen to any complaints your children share and don't hesitate to have them evaluated if you are concerned.

If you are currently fighting leukemia or lymphoma, or are a survivor or caregiver, you may be interested in a support group that meets at our office the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Meredith Kinsey, BSW at 361-5847.

New Support Group for Blood Cancers

We are planning a new family education and support group that will be held monthly from July through December. The group will be for adult patients, family and friends coping with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, MDS and other blood cancers.

Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Hope Cancer Resources office. Click here for address and map.

The first meeting will feature a myeloma survivor who serves as a patient ambassador sharing their inspiring story of coping with cancer. Dr. Eric Schaefer from Highlands Oncology Group will also be present to offer his thoughts.


Schedule of Meetings:

July 20: Kick-off Meeting sponsored by Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company
August 10: Ask the Doctor with Dr. Patrick Travis from Oncologist at Highland's Oncology Group
September 14: Cancer and Nutrition
October 12: Group's Choice (TBD)
November 9: Coping with the Holidays
December 14: Year-End Reflections

The meetings will be facilitated by Jessica Minton, LCSW and Enola Bunton, RN. Both are members of the professional staff at Hope Cancer Resources.

If you are interested in attending any of these meetings, please RSVP to Jessica at 479-361-5847 or jessica.minton@hopecancerresources.org. For the first meeting (July 20) please RSVP by July 16!