Identify early symptoms of blood cancer with these easy methods

Blood cancers, also known as hematological cancers, encompass a wide range of cancers of the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. These include cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. The early symptoms of these cancers are often mild or may resemble other common diseases, making them difficult to detect early. Therefore, it is important to recognize these symptoms and get tested on time.

The symptoms of blood cancer and some common methods of testing, which is very important for everyone to know. So let us first know what kind of symptoms are seen when blood cancer occurs.

1. Sudden and unusual fatigue
The first and most common symptom of blood cancer is unusual fatigue. This fatigue occurs without any apparent reason and does not go away even after rest. If you are constantly feeling tired and cannot understand the reason for it, then this can be an early sign of blood cancer.

2. Frequent infections
Blood cancer weakens the body’s immune system, leading to frequent infections. Patients may often get cold, flu or other infections repeatedly and these may take longer to recover than usual. If you are falling sick frequently, this could be a warning sign.

3. Sudden blue marks on the body or bleeding
If you get blue marks (bruises) on your body without any reason or you have frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums, then it can be a sign of blood cancer. This problem occurs due to lack of platelets in the body, which help in forming blood clots.

4. Swollen lymph nodes
If you have swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or thighs, it could be a symptom of lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. These swollen nodes are painless, but ignoring them can be dangerous.

5. Bone pain
Certain blood cancers such as myeloma can cause bone pain, especially in the back or ribs. If you feel persistent bone pain, take it seriously and consult a doctor.

6. Pale skin or anemia
Cancer of the blood can cause a decrease in the number of red blood cells, leading to anemia. This can result in pale skin, shortness of breath and dizziness. If you are experiencing these symptoms, get yourself checked immediately.

7. Fever and night sweats Having
a fever and sweating at night without any apparent reason can also be a sign of blood cancer. These symptoms often come and go and have no apparent cause.

Common ways to test for leukemia are:

* Complete blood count (CBC) : This test measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in the blood. An abnormal count may be a sign of leukemia.

* Bone marrow biopsy : In this procedure, a small sample of bone marrow is removed and checked for the presence of cancer cells.

* Imaging tests : X-rays, CT scans or PET scans are used to check for signs of cancer in other parts of the body.

* Cytogenetic testing : This test examines the chromosomes of blood or bone marrow cells to diagnose leukemia.