September is leukemia awareness month

This Blood Cancer Awareness Month, we honour our children, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, neighbours and strangers currently living with or in remission from blood cancers and those who have lost the fight —and all those caring for, raising funds for, advocating for, and researching for them. It all adds up to change the course of healthcare and the future of the diseases.

Leukemia:

Leukemia typically refers to cancers of the white blood cells. White blood cells are a vital part of your immune system, protecting your body from infections and viruses. When leukemia cells divide rapidly, they can crowd out healthy cells in your bone marrow, such as your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

In addition to older age and having a family history of leukemia, risk factors of leukemia may include:

exposure to radiation
treatment with certain chemotherapy drugs
having had blood cancer in the past
certain viral infections, such as human T-cell leukemia and Epstein Barr
Down syndrome and other genetic syndromes
smoking

Symptoms may include:

fever
lethargy
paleness and shortness of breath due to anemia
increased bruising and bleeding

4 Major Types of Leukemia:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which affects myeloid cells and grows quickly;
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), which affects myeloid cells and grows slowly;
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), which affects lymphoid cells and grows quickly; (*most common in children)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which also affects lymphoid cells, but grows slowly. (*most common in adults)

Lymphoma:

Lymphomas begin in cells of the lymph system, which is a part of the immune system. Lymph tissue is found throughout the body. As a result, lymphoma can begin almost anywhere.

Risk factors for lymphoma include:

exposure to radiation
Epstein-Barr or human T-cell lymphotrophic virus
HIV, organ transplant, or genetic immune disorders

Symptoms may include:

swollen lymph nodes
fever, night sweats
weight loss
fatigue

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma will affect about 2.1% of people in their lifetime.
You can get it at any age, but more than half of people are 65 or older at diagnosis. The overall risk is higher in men than women.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sometimes called Hodgkin’s disease, will affect approximately 0.2% of people in their lifetime.
It’s most common in early adulthood, with an average age of 39 at diagnosis.

Both types can occur in adults and children.

Today, preventative therapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, and intensification therapy are all leading treatments with a proven impact on the growth and remission of this cancer. It is critical to raise awareness about the early warning signs of the diseases, as there’s a near-perfect chance of survival with early diagnosis.

Pharmacy Direct support:

If you or a loved one are facing blood cancer, remember that you are not alone. Wherever you are in your diagnosis, Pharmacy Direct supports you:

Whether you have questions about your medication, managing side effects, or simply need someone to talk to, our team of compassionate pharmacists is just a call away.
Eating well helps people with cancer feel better, stay stronger, and better tolerate the side effects of treatment. Good nutrition also helps the body replace blood cells and healthy tissues that are damaged because of cancer treatment.
Clinical trials can be the best options for some patients and pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries that can change the course of blood cancer treatment.

For more info
Cancer Association of South Africa
Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa – CHOC