Blood cancer, also known as hematologic cancer, is a group of cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. The three main types are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Like many cancers, blood cancer often begins silently, with vague symptoms that are easy to overlook or attribute to less serious illnesses. However, early detection significantly increases the chances of effective treatment. Here are seven early warning signs of blood cancer that everyone should be aware of.
1. Persistent Fatigue and Weakness
One of the earliest and most common symptoms of blood cancer is extreme tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest. This kind of fatigue is different from just feeling sleepy — it’s a deep, lingering exhaustion that can interfere with daily activities. It often results from the cancer interfering with the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells, especially red blood cells, leading to anemia.
2. Frequent Infections
Blood cancers can compromise the immune system by disrupting white blood cell production and function. This makes the body more vulnerable to infections. If you find yourself getting sick more often than usual, or struggling to recover from minor illnesses like colds, it could be a sign that your immune system is under threat.
3. Unexplained Weight Loss
Sudden and unintentional weight loss is a red flag for many types of cancer, including blood cancer. Losing weight without changing your diet or exercise routine may occur because cancer cells consume a lot of the body’s energy or due to changes in metabolism triggered by the disease.
4. Fever or Night Sweats
Unexplained, recurring fevers or severe night sweats — especially ones that drench your sheets — can be early indicators of lymphoma and leukemia. These symptoms often arise because the body is reacting to the presence of cancer by raising its temperature in an attempt to fight what it sees as an infection.
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