Cancer is a deadly disease that occurs when abnormal cells divide and spread. It can go on to damage nearby tissues and organs.
There are more than 200 types of cancer that can affect the human body. Some are more well known than others, and some display more obvious warning signs.
Like any medical condition, the earlier you spot the signs, the earlier you can seek treatment. Blood cancer is a form of the disease that can be hard to spot.
According to charity Blood Cancer UK, it is the cause of 16,000 deaths in the UK every year. This makes it the third biggest cancer killer in the country.
Therefore, it is important to be aware of the potential symptoms to look for. This could make the difference between successful and unsuccessful treatment.
There are several different forms of blood cancer for which the symptoms will vary.
These include leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, MDS and MPN among others.
But Blood Cancer UK lists 11 red flags to watch out for. These include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding
- Lumps or swellings
- Breathlessness
- Drenching night sweats
- Infections that are persistent, recurrent or severe
- Unexplained fever (37.5C or above)
- Unexplained rash or itchy skin
- Pain in your bones, joints or abdomen
- Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest or sleep
- Paleness (pallor) – the skin under your lower eyelid looks white rather than pink.
Some of these symptoms will appear differently depending on your skin tone.
Bruises
Bruises caused by blood cancer generally start as red patches which change colour and get darker over time.
Blood Cancer UK says: “They often feel tender. On black and brown skin, bruises may be difficult to see initially, but as they develop, they show up as darker than the skin around them.”
Rashes
According to the charity, rashes often appear as clusters of tiny spots (petechiae) or larger blotches (purpura).
It explains: “On black and brown skin, they may look purple or darker than the surrounding skin.
“On lighter skin, they typically look red or purple. If you press on them, petechiae and purpura don’t fade.”
Pallor
Paleness or pallor can occur if a person has too few red blood cells.
“Pallor is often more immediately noticeable in light skin,” Blood Cancer UK says.
“People with black or brown skin may look greyish and their palms may look paler than usual.
“They might also notice pallor in their lips, gums, tongue or nail beds.
“In all skin tones, pallor can be seen by pulling down the lower eyelid. The inside is normally dark pink or red, but if it’s pale pink or white, it’s a sign of pallor.”
If you experience any signs of blood cancer you should speak to your GP.
While it is not known exactly why someone will develop blood cancer, you risk can be increased by:
- Being older
- Being male
- Family history of the disease
- Radiation or chemical exposure
- Ethnicity – it is more common in people from an African-Caribbean background.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
