Top Hospitals Provide Innovative Blood Cancer Treatments in India for Patients Worldwide

Blood cancer can be referred to a kind of malignancy which affects the bone marrow, blood, and the lymphatic system and also has an effect on the function and the production of blood cells in the body. Blood cancer begins forming in the bone marrow that’s the integral source for the production of blood.

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The stem cells in the bone marrow get matured and then develop into 3 different types of blood cells namely the white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. In blood cancer, the process of blood production is interrupted because of the growth of some abnormal types of blood cells.

Types of blood Cancer 

The 3 most common types of blood cancers are as follows: –

Leukemia: –

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that is caused due to the rapid production and growth of the abnormal blood cells in the bone marrow. And these abnormal blood cells hamper the ability of the bone marrow to produce platelets and red blood cells.

Different types of leukemia are: –

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia  – Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. It occurs when the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells that interfere with the normal production of blood cells, leading to anemia, infection, and bleeding problems. AML is often characterized by rapid progression and requires prompt treatment.
• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia    – Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a type of blood cancer where the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells. It is a slow-growing cancer that often has few symptoms in its early stages. CML is caused by a genetic mutation that creates a cancer-causing protein called BCR-ABL, which interferes with the normal functioning of white blood cells. It is most commonly treated with targeted therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which work by blocking the activity of the BCR-ABL protein.
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia    – Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells, specifically lymphocytes, which help the body fight infections. It is characterized by an overproduction of immature white blood cells that don’t function properly and build up in the bone marrow and bloodstream, eventually spreading to other parts of the body. ALL is considered “acute” because it progresses quickly if not treated and can be life-threatening. Treatment usually involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or stem cell transplant.
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia    – Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL) is a type of blood cancer that affects the white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the bone marrow. It is a slow-growing cancer that often progresses over time and spreads to other parts of the body. Common symptoms include fatigue, recurrent infections, and enlarged lymph nodes. Treatment typically involves medication and/or chemotherapy, with the goal of slowing down or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

• Bone Marrow Transplant    – A bone marrow transplant (BMT) is a medical procedure in which damaged or destroyed bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside bones that produces blood cells) is replaced with healthy bone marrow. This is typically done to treat diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, or after high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy for other cancers. BMT can be autologous (using the patient’s own bone marrow) or allogenic (using bone marrow from a donor). The transplant involves collecting healthy bone marrow, usually from the hip bone, and transplanting it into the patient through a vein.

Lymphoma: –

Lymphoma is another common type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system of the body, which is mainly responsible for the production of immune cells and eradication of excess fluids from the body. The lymphocytes are the white blood cells that fight different types of infections. The abnormal lymphocytes turn into the lymphoma cells, which, in turn, grow extremely fast in the lymph nodes as well as in the other nearby tissues.

• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system and affects the white blood cells (lymphocytes). It is characterized by the presence of abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. Symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever, weight loss and itching. HL is treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplant in advanced cases. Early diagnosis and treatment can lead to a high cure rate.
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, which is a part of the body’s immune system. NHL can affect lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and other organs. It occurs when lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, grow abnormally and multiply. NHL can be either slow-growing or aggressive and its symptoms can include swelling of lymph nodes, fatigue, weight loss, and fever. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.

Myeloma: – 

Myeloma is also a very common type of blood cancer that affects the plasma cells in the body, which are nothing but the white blood cells mainly responsible for producing disease-fighting antibodies. It also hampers the production of the plasma cells that ultimately weakens the immune system of the body.

Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell. It causes the production of abnormal plasma cells that accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the normal production of blood cells. Symptoms may include bone

pain, fatigue, infections, and anemia. There is no cure for multiple myeloma, but treatment options, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplant, can help manage the disease and relieve symptoms.

Symptoms of blood cancer

The symptoms of blood cancer in both males and females are the same and are as follows: –

• Fatigue
• Unexplained and drastic weight loss
• Shortness of breath
• Swollen lymph nodes, mainly in the neck, groin area or armpit
• Frequent infections
• Weakness or tiredness
• Anemia that is low count of red blood cells
• Easy bleeding and bruising
• Bone tenderness or pain in the bones
• Rash or itchy skin

Causes of blood cancer

Blood cancer may occur due tomthese following factors: –

• Faster aging
• Some infections occur
• Very weak immune system
• Family history of blood cancer or especially leukemia
• Blood disorders like myelodysplastic syndrome
• Exposure to some chemicals including some petrochemicals and benzene
• Exposure to radiation therapy or previous blood cancer treatment
• Viruses like the HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus and HTLV-1 or Human T-lymphotropic Virus
• Genetic factors like those of Down Syndrome can result in blood cancer like leukemia.

Different stages of blood cancer

The stages of this type of cancer are basically divided or differentiated based on the metastasis. Depending on the rate of metastasis and the symptoms, the four stages of blood cancer are divided.

Stage 1  

In stage 1 blood cancer, the lymph nodes get enlarged. And this happens because of the sudden increase in the count of the lymphocytes. At this stage, the risk is quite low as the cancer has not yet already to the other parts of the body.

Stage 2 

In the second stage of blood cancer, the liver, lymph nodes, and spleen get enlarged. And one of the body organs get affected. In this stage, the lymphocytes also grow very fast.

Stage 3 

In stage 3 of blood cancer, anemia happens and two or more organs get affected.

Stage 4 

This is the final stage of blood cancer. In this stage, the blood platelets begin to drop rapidly and the risk is extremely high. The affected cells also start damaging organs like the lungs and the organs that were previously affected by the same disease.

Treatment for blood cancer

The main aim of treating blood cancer is to completely get rid of the disease. Different advanced therapies are given by the best blood cancer hospital in India to cure millions of patients suffering from different stages of blood cancer. The most common treatment options are as follows.

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation Therapy
• Targeted Therapies
• Bone marrow transplantation
• Immunotherapy

Chemotherapy: – 

Chemotherapy for blood cancer involves using drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells in the body. It can be administered orally or intravenously and may be given alone or in combination with other treatments such as radiation therapy or stem cell transplant.

Chemotherapy works by disrupting the cell division process of rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, it also affects healthy cells that divide rapidly, such as those in the bone marrow, digestive system, and hair follicles, leading to side effects. The type and duration of chemotherapy regimen depends on the type and stage of blood cancer being treated.

Radiation therapy: – 

Radiation therapy for blood cancer involves using high-energy beams (radiation) to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. It’s used to treat various types of blood cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma. The radiation is carefully targeted to minimize damage to healthy cells. The therapy is usually given as an outpatient procedure and may be combined with other treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery. The number of treatments and their duration depend on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Targeted therapies: – 

Targeted therapies are a type of cancer treatment that target specific molecules involved in cancer cell growth, division, and spread. In blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma), targeted therapies can include:

• Monoclonal antibodies: Antibodies that specifically target and destroy cancer cells.

• Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs): Drugs that target specific enzymes involved in cancer cell growth and division.

• B-cell receptor pathway inhibitors: Drugs that target signaling pathways used by B cells (a type of white blood cell) to divide and grow.

• Proteasome inhibitors: Drugs that target enzymes involved in the breakdown of proteins in cancer cells, leading to their death.

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors: Drugs that release the brakes on the immune system, allowing it to better recognize and attack cancer cells.

These therapies can be used alone or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy to improve treatment outcomes.

Bone marrow transplantation: –  

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a treatment for blood cancers (such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma) that involves replacing damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow cells.

The procedure involves removing some of the patient’s bone marrow (autologous transplant) or getting it from a donor (allogenic transplant). The healthy cells are then given back to the patient through a vein. The new cells travel to the bone marrow and begin to produce new, healthy blood cells.

BMT can be used to treat a variety of blood cancers by replacing the cancerous cells with healthy ones. It can also be used to rebuild the immune system in patients who have received high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

BMT is a complex and demanding procedure with significant risks, including infections, bleeding, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), where the transplanted cells attack the recipient’s body. However, it can also be life-saving for some patients, especially those with high-risk blood cancers that are not responsive to other treatments.

Immunotherapy: – 

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer. In blood cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, immunotherapy can be used to help the body recognize and destroy cancer cells. This is done by boosting the immune system, or by giving it new tools to fight cancer cells. Examples of immunotherapy for blood cancer include monoclonal antibodies, T cell therapy, and cytokine therapy.

Cost of blood cancer treatment in India   

The cost of blood cancer treatment in India can vary widely depending on several factors such as type of cancer, stage of the disease, location, type of hospital and treatment methods. On average, the cost of treatment can range from a few lakhs to several crores of rupees. It is advisable to check with specific hospitals and treatment centers for more accurate and updated cost estimates. You can also get in touch with us at MediGoCare to get the treatment done in the best hospitals for blood cancer in India and by the best doctors for blood cancer treatment in India.