Can Blood Cancer Be Treated?

Treatment options for blood cancer are many, and they include stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. In stem cell transplantation, healthy blood-forming stem cells are infused into the body while in chemotherapy, anticancer drugs are used for halting the multiplication cancer cells in the body. Radiation therapy is used for destroying cancer cells and relieving pain and discomfort caused by cancer. If you are dealing with the symptoms of blood cancer, you should consult with an oncologist for further treatment.

Researchers are always looking for means of improving treatments for blood cancer and have successfully made a lot of progress. When there are few or no symptoms of blood cancer, the oncologist may recommend you to wait and watch before undergoing any treatment. For instance, people with low-grade forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia can be kept under wait and watch since these disorders cause no worrying symptoms. The decision regarding whether you should wait and watch is entirely dependent on how you are doing without the treatment.

Chemotherapy is a common treatment for all types of cancers where the cancer cells are destroyed and put into remission, and the progress of the disease is inhibited. Chemotherapy can be used on its own, but it is often combined with various other treatments to increase its efficacy. Chemotherapy is designed for attacking the cells that are undesirably growing and multiplying. When you are getting ready for other treatments, then also you will require chemotherapy for suppressing your immune system.

Stem cells are the primary cells in the body which means that all other cells, tissues, and organs can develop from it. Blood stem cells in the bone marrow become affected when there is blood cancer, and in such cases, the stem cell transplantation could serve as the best treatment option. This is a carefully controlled process, and various factors come into play to make the process effective. Doctors can use your own stem cells as well if it is healthy and this process is known as autologous stem cell transplant.