Blood cancers, including bone marrow cancer, can grow in the bone marrow (the center of blood-forming cells). Symptoms vary depending on what type of blood cancer you have. Some types, such as leukemia,8 cause a high number of abnormal blood cells that can crowd out healthy ones and cause problems such as bone pain, weakness, bleeding and an enlarged spleen. Other types, such as multiple myeloma,9 form plasma cells that build up in the bones and interfere with how the body makes white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
Some types of bone marrow cancers develop when cancerous stem cells go bad and begin to divide uncontrollably. Stem cells are the precursors of all other blood cells, including cancerous ones.
Bone marrow cancers are usually treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments can kill cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. They may also be combined with other types of treatment such as surgery, biologic therapy or a bone marrow transplant.
Many of these cancers are related to changes in the genetic material of a blood cell, called DNA. Some of these cancers are inherited and can run in families. Others develop due to the effects of certain medicines or environmental factors.
If you are worried about symptoms, talk to your health care provider. They can order tests to help find out if your symptoms are caused by a problem with your blood or bone marrow. These include a complete blood cell count, which counts different types of cells in your blood; a test to measure the amount of calcium and uric acid in your body; and a blood chemistry test that checks levels of important substances such as protein and platelets.
Symptoms of blood and bone marrow cancer vary widely and can be difficult to diagnose. In some cases, the cancer cells will not grow fast enough to be detected and can be mistaken for other health conditions such as infections or fatigue.
When you’re diagnosed with a blood cancer, your care team will explain the prognosis. This is based on how aggressive the cancer is, how it responds to treatment and other factors such as your overall health.
Bone marrow cancer is a serious condition that affects the bones, blood and immune system. At Norton, our hematology experts provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for bone marrow cancer and related diseases. We offer access to innovative clinical trials featuring promising new therapies and a full range of supportive services that empower patients at every step in their journey.
We’re at the forefront of research into blood cancers, including bone marrow cancer. Pioneering work from UVA scientists has pinpointed a key contributor to the unrelenting inflammation that occurs in some blood cancers such as myelofibrosis.9 This discovery could lead to new treatment approaches for this deadly disease.
