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.

September

September is a big month in terms of the number of different kinds of cancer being recognized, remembered, and discussed in the media to help raise awareness. At Hope Cancer Resources, no one cancer diagnosis is more important than another... they all cause the fear, stress and physical, emotional and financial needs that we have made it our mission to address. But if we let the month go by without bringing the following to your attention, we are not doing our job.


National Ovarian Cancer Month - Each year in the United States, more than 21,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about 15,000 women die of the disease. That's a 70% mortality rate, folks.

According to the data, the mortality rates for ovarian cancer have not improved in thirty years since the “War on Cancer” was declared. While other cancers have shown a marked reduction in mortality due to the availability of early detection tests and improved treatments, this is not the case with ovarian cancer, which is still the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers.

Childhood Cancer Month - In the United States, more than 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. That is roughly the equivalent of two average size classrooms (35-46 kids) diagnosed each school day. Over 40,000 children and adolescents currently are being treated for childhood cancers, and cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease in children, cutting short the lives of more children under the age of 20 than any other disease. Most heartbreaking, 1 child out of 5 who is diagnosed with cancer dies.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month - An estimated 137,260 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2010. New cases of leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma will account for 9.0 percent of the 1,529,560 new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States this year.

Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma will cause the deaths of an estimated 54,020 people in the United States this year. In fact, every ten minutes, someone dies from a blood cancer. This statistic represents nearly 148 people each day, or more than six people every hour. 

Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month - Any woman is at risk for developing a gynecologic cancer. There are five main types:

• Cervical cancer - In 2006,* 11,982 women in the United States were told they had cervical cancer.
• Ovarian cancer - In 2006,* 19,994 women in the United States were told that they have ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other gynecologic cancer, but it accounts for only about 3 percent of all cancers in women.
• Uterine cancer - In 2006,* 38,535 women in the United States were told that they had uterine cancer.
• Vaginal & Vulvar Cancer - In 2006,* 1,102 women in the United States were told that they had vaginal cancer and 3,807 women learned they had vulvar cancer.

* The last year for which statistics are available.

Each year, approximately 82,550 women in the United States are diagnosed with cancers affecting the reproductive organs. In 2006, 27,848 women died from a gynecologic cancer. 

National Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week - Thyroid cancer is one of the few cancers that has increased in incidence rates over recent years. It occurs in all age groups from children through seniors. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 37,200 new cases of thyroid cancer in the U.S. in 2009. Of these new cases, about 27,200 will occur in women and about 10,000 will occur in men. About 1,630 people (940 women and 690 men) were expected to die of thyroid cancer in 2009.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month - Prostate cancer is diagnosed every two minutes and fifteen seconds, and more than 217,730 new cases are expected in 2010. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in America among men. An estimated 32,050 American men will lose their lives to prostate cancer this year. One in six American men is at lifetime risk of prostate cancer and in the next 24 hours, prostate cancer will claim the lives of 83 American men.

Part of the vision we have at Hope Cancer Resources is to reduce the number of cancer incidences in Northwest Arkansas. To make that happen, we have to educate our friends and neighbors about prevention, symptoms, and screenings. Until we have done away with cancer, we will continue to provide that education in our communities, and assistance to those struggling with the disease, whatever form it takes.

Join us! Contact us, share your own stories, and let us know how you'd like to help support our mission to provide compassionate, professional cancer support and education in the Northwest Arkansas region today and tomorrow.