THE BIG THREE…
There are three main types of blood cancers:
- Leukaemia, is a type of cancer found in your blood and stem cell (bone marrow), this is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells.
- Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, it removes excess fluids from your body and produces immune cells. Over time, these cancerous cells impair your immune system.
- Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. Plasma cells are white blood cells that produce disease and infection fighting antibodies in your body. Myeloma cells prevent the normal production of antibodies, leaving your body’s immune system weakened and become vulnerable to infections.
MYELOPROLIFERATIVE NEOPLASMS
“(MPNs) happen when cells that come from myeloid stem cells are produced in very large numbers.”
These cell types include:
Red blood cells (RBCs) | White blood cells (WBCs) | Platelets
There are several types of MPNs:
Polycythemia vera | Essential thrombocythemia | Primary myelofibrosis | Chronic neutrophilic leukeamia | Chronic eosinophilic leukeamia | Unclassified MPN
Although MPNs are generally quite rare, some types are more common than others. These include: polycythemia vera | essential thrombocythemia | primary myelofibrosis
APL is associated with a specific genetic change called the PML/RARA fusion gene. In APL, immature WBCs called promyelocytes begin to gather in the blood and bone marrow.
ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKAEMIA
APL is associated with a specific genetic change called the PML/RARA fusion gene. In APL, immature WBCs called promyelocytes begin to gather in the blood and bone marrow.
People with APL can quickly experience life threatening complications like clotting or bleeding problems. In most cases Because of this, doctors may start treatment even if APL is just suspected but not yet confirmed.
PROLYMPHOCYTIC LEUKAEMIA
PLL is similar to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) but affects a less mature cell type.
PLL is a type of leukaemia that is an extremely rare and typically aggressive cancer that is characterised by the out-of-control growth of mature T-cells.
PLL often occurs as a transformation of another type of chronic leukaemia like CLL and is more common in males.
LARGE GRANULAR LYMPHOCYTIC
LGL is a type of chronic leukaemia that affects lymphocytes like T cells or Natural Killer (NK) cells. Under a microscope, the affected cells are larger than normal and contain many particles called granules.
There are also aggressive forms of LGL leukaemia. They grow and spread quickly and are resistant to many treatments.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE BLOOD CANCERS THERE ARE ALSO MANY RARE TYPES OF BLOOD CANCERS
