Globally 900,000 are diagnosed with blood cancer each year, yet nature and types of blood cancer continue to elude people. After the US and China, India has the highest number of reported blood cancer patients. About 70,000 men and women are affected by blood cancer in the country. The 5-year survival rate of the disease has evolved from 14% in the 1960s to 61% in the 2010s to almost 70% in 2020. However, awareness of blood cancer and blood cancer treatment is still scarce.
The truth about blood cancer
There are primarily 3 types of blood cancer:
Leukaemia
It is the cancer of blood & bone marrow. It affects leucocytes or white blood cells and interferes with the body's ability to produce red blood cells & platelets.
Lymphoma
There are two forms of lymphoma:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Every type of lymphoma other than Hodgkin lymphoma falls in this category. It develops in the lymphatic system from lymphocytes, a type of infection-fighting white blood cells.
- Hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that develops from lymphocytes too, but it is characterized by the presence of an abnormal lymphocyte called the Reed-Sternberg cell.
Myeloma
It is a type of blood cancer that starts in the blood plasma cells.
Now let's talk about some blood cancer treatments. Whether you're looking for a lymphoma cancer doctor in Noida/Delhi or the best cancer doctor to consult for an insight into the new advancements of blood cancer treatment, you might be in for a surprise.
Why?
The advancements in blood cancer treatment
The blood cancer treatment plan of patients depends on a variety of factors including, type & stage of cancer, the spread of the blood cancer, and the total health of the affected person. The treatment plans include:
· Stem cell/bone marrow transplantation
Stem cell or bone marrow transplantation has proven to be an effective treatment for blood cancer patients. However, previously, before conducting the transplantation, some of the best cancer doctors suggested that the patients should be given a lethal dose of chemotherapy to avoid graft vs. host disease.
The consensus was that the chemotherapy, in the beginning, made the transplantation successful. That's not the case, according to some of the best cancer doctors and researchers involved in the studies. They have discovered that the bone marrow itself and it's qualities define success. That is how CAR-T therapy, the new addition to available blood cancer treatments, was discovered.
· CAR-T therapy
CAR-T therapy is an FDA approved blood cancer treatment for cancer patients who have not responded to other cancer treatments. This is a personalized cancer treatment created from the individual's T-cells, a subtype of white blood cells.
· Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is being used as a blood cancer treatment for a long time; sometimes along with bone marrow transplantation, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy. In 2018, nelarabine (Arranon) was suggested as an addition to standard chemotherapy to improve the chances of survival in newly diagnosed children & young adults with T-Cell ALL, a type of blood cancer.
· Immunotherapy
CAR-T cell therapy is one of the immunotherapy treatments used for blood cancer patients. However, there are several other immunotherapy treatments preferred by expert oncologists like Dr. Manish Singhal, a top cancer specialist in Delhi. Some of these treatments, new & old include medications like blinatumomab (Blincyto), inotuzumab ozogamicin (Besponsa), daratumumab (Darzalex), elotuzumab (Empliciti), and ixazomib (Ninlaro). The choice is with the oncologist in charge & the patient statistics.
· Targeted Therapy
Several types of blood cancers are also treated with the help of targeted therapy. People, especially children, with genetic mutations, are more prone to having the best results from these targeted therapies.
Parting Words
Yes, blood cancer, despite being a disease with a global presence, is barely recognized as a threat by the public. But, some of the best cancer doctors and researchers know the numbers and are revolutionizing blood cancer treatment all the same. If you're a blood cancer patient or survivor looking for some insights or some guidance, the information available might seem incomplete or overwhelming to you. In this light, to get guidance, you might need to consult an expert in the field like Dr. Manish Singhal, the best oncologist in Delhi NCR offering advanced blood cancer treatment in Noida Delhi.
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