Jayasty Anandan

Best Blood Cancer Treatment in India | Best Hospitals for Blood Cancer in India Blood cancer is estimated to account for 8% of all new cancer cases in India. It is one of the top 10 cancers in India, and it is estimated that 1.38 lakh people will be affected by 2025, according to the latest cancer report of ICMR. About 1.25 lakh people suffer from blood cancer, which constitutes 9% of the total cancers in India. India ranks 3rd highest in reported cases of blood cancer, after the US and China. It affects more than 70,000 men and women in the country, and this is a growing concern for public health administrators in India. We have earned more knowledge and expertise in treating blood cancer but still face challenges due to our high population. Though the number of cases registered is lower than in the west, the mortality rate is higher. This is due to several factors, such as the lack of a complete health system, low accessibility to affordable healthcare in rural areas, and lack of awareness and education on Blood Cancer. At Least 30% of future cancer can be prevented, if necessary, and measures are taken in the early stages. From tobacco sales and consumption control, dietary changes, and expansion of medical facilities to awareness programs about risks and prevention, a lot can be done to minimize the risk of blood cancer in India. What does blood consist of? Blood has four main parts: · Plasma – The liquid part of blood that transports nutrients, waste products, proteins, and other molecules. · Red blood cells – The cells responsible for carrying oxygen to lungs and tissues. · White blood cells – The cells responsible for defending against infections. · Platelets – The cells that form a blood clot and prevent blood loss. What is Blood Cancer? Blood cancer arises when the blood cells start growing abnormally and interfere with the normal function of blood cells, like fighting infections or clotting. In a healthy body, new white blood cells are regularly produced to replace the old dying ones. However, the excessive production of white blood cells in the bone marrow leads to blood cancer. Bone marrow comprises stem cells that develop into: · Red blood cells carry oxygen to your body's tissues and organs. It brings carbon dioxide to your lungs so you can exhale it. · White blood cells fight infection as part of your immune system. · Platelets help in blood clots when you are injured. How many types of Blood Cancer exist? There are three types of Blood Cancer as follows: · Leukemia is caused by the increase in the number of white blood cells in the body. It stops white blood cells from fighting against infections in your body. It can be either acute or chronic and affect the lymphocytes or other immune cells. It is the most common blood cancer for children under 15. · Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, especially lymph nodes, affecting a specific type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. It is usually found in adults. It reports over half of all diagnosed cases of blood cancer. · Myeloma is cancer that forms in a white blood cell called a plasma cell. They are lymphocytes that make antibodies to protect against infections. Myeloma affects your body’s immune system, leaving it prone to infection. What are the different Blood Cancer stages? The stages of blood cancer are divided based on metastasis. Corresponding to the symptoms and rate of metastasis, the different stages of blood cancer are determined. The stages of Blood Cancer are mainly divided into four types: Stage 1 – The first stage includes the enlargement of the lymph nodes. This happens due to the sudden increase in the number of lymphocytes. The risk at this stage is very low since it has not spread to other body parts. · Stage 2 – The spleen, liver, and lymph nodes enlarge during the second stage. One of the organs gets affected for sure, and the growth of lymphocytes is very high at this stage. · · Stage 3 – In this stage, anemia develops, and more than two organs are affected. · Stage 4 – This is the last stage of blood cancer with a high-risk ratio. The rate of blood platelets starts dropping rapidly. The affected cells start damaging the lungs and other organs already affected in the earlier stages. What are the Blood Cancer symptoms and signs to look for? Blood cancers vary in: · The types of cells they affect. · How fast they grow. · How far do they spread into the body? Though each type of blood cancer differs, they can contribute to some common symptoms and signs. Some people may not have any symptoms until the infection is developed. Or they may misunderstand the symptoms of a severe cold or flu. Some common Blood Cancer symptoms include: · Coughing or chest pain · Night sweats · Fever or chills · Persistent weakness and fatigue · Shortness of breath · Itchy skin or rash · Loss of appetite or nausea What are the causes of Blood Cancer? The risk factors for blood cancer are not well known. Blood cancers are believed to develop from hereditary and environmental factors. Smoking, radiation exposure, and chemical exposure such as benzene have all been linked to increased risk of some types of blood cancers. What are the treatments available for Blood Cancer? Treatment will depend on the type of Blood Cancer, age, how fast the cancer is developing, and whether cancer has spread to other parts of your body. Treatments for blood cancer have massively improved over the last few decades, and several types of blood cancers are now highly treatable. Common treatments include the following: · Chemotherapy – An Anticancer drug introduced to the body via injection into the vein or sometimes taken as a pill to kill and halt the production of cancer cells. This treatment is often carried out for several months. It can be outpatient or inpatient, depending on the blood cancer diagnosis. Doctors use chemotherapy to treat cancer and relieve symptoms, such as shrinking tumors that can cause pain. Depending on the stage and type of blood cancer, chemotherapy is given through mouth or injection. Usually, the chemotherapy is given in cycles with a treatment period followed by rest that allows the body to recover and build strength. Doctors often use chemotherapy along with radiation therapy to treat blood cancer. There are some side effects of chemotherapy, depending upon the treatment type, including fatigue, nausea, and hair loss. · Radiation therapy – This treatment involves high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. They may be given chemotherapy at times. They are given through injections or tablets into the vein. This treatment takes several days or months, and blood cancer cells die after the therapy ends. The session will take 30 mins to 1 hour every five days a week for 7-20 weeks usually; the patient needs a 2-3 day break after 5 days to help restore the healthy cells. Two types of radiation therapy include: External radiation therapy This therapy uses a machine to send energy streams into the blood cancer cell through the skin. Before the process, the patient has to undergo a simulation that measures the angle at which radiation has to be done. Only specific areas with cancer are open to radiation while the remaining part of the body like ovaries and testes, are under the shield. Hence there are fewer chances of skin reactions in patients. Internal radiation therapy In this therapy, the radiation source is inside the body, which can be liquid or solid. During this therapy, the patient’s blood count needs close supervision since he/she might need a blood transfusion. The treatment involves damaging the DNA in cancer cells. There are some side effects of radiation therapy, like Fatigue, skin problems, a decrease in blood cell count, hair loss, dizziness, and variation in blood pressure and heartbeat. The most affected areas during the treatment include the heart, kidneys, chest, head, neck, and central nervous system. · Targeted therapies – This treatment involves drugs that kill malignant blood cells without harming normal cells. A potential target for this therapy is the protein in the cancer cells. It can involve blocking the cancer cells from growing and dividing, preventing the cells from living longer, or destroying the cancer cells themselves. Several types of target therapy are available, but the most common ones are monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule drugs. Monoclonal antibodies - They block specific targets outside cancer cells that might be an area around cancer. Small-molecule drugs - These drugs block the process that helps cancer cells to multiply. Angiogenesis inhibitors are an example of this therapy that makes new blood vessels. A tumor needs blood vessels to bring nutrients, and angiogenesis starves it by preventing new blood vessels from forming tissue around it. · Stem cell transplantation – In this treatment, healthy stem cells can be infused into your body to produce healthy blood, followed by therapy to destroy malignant blood cells. These stem cells grow in all types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. There are two types of stem cells transplants for blood cancer: Autologous Transplantation It is a stage when stem cells are collected from a patient prior to chemotherapy treatment and re-introduced into the patient’s body after treatment. High doses of chemotherapy kill the cancerous cells in the blood. Allogeneic transplantation It is a stage when a patient receives stem cells from a related or unrelated donor. Because most of the blood stem cells live in bone marrow, stem cell transplants are also known as bone marrow transplants. It involves harvesting bone marrow from a donor through a needle while the donor is under anesthesia. · Immunotherapy This treatment activates the immune system to kill cancer cells. It can work directly with your body’s immune system to slow the growth of cancer cells or destroy the cancer cells. Immunotherapy treatment is carried out one or a few times a week for several weeks. In most cases, you will receive a shot of immunotherapy into a vein over the course of a few hours. Immunotherapy has a few side effects depending upon the agent used and differs from person to person. These treatments often can cause rashes or swelling at the injection area and may cause headaches, muscle aches, fever, and weakness. Different types of Immunotherapies include: Cytokines These are proteins made by white blood cells to regulate the immune response and help to slow the growth of cancer cells. There are two types of cytokines – interferon and interleukin. Gene Therapy This approach inserts genetic materials into the cells to fight blood cancer using a viral vector. Immunomodulators These substances affect the eBay cells interacting with each other to divide and grow. Monoclonal antibodies These lab-produced antibodies bind to cancer cells and allow the immune system to kill the cancer cells in the blood and bone marrow. What is the cost of Blood Cancer in India? The minimum cost for Blood Cancer Treatment in India starts from INR Rs.38,000 and it can increase up to INR Rs. 22,00,000 The cost of Blood Cancer Treatment in India may vary subject to the following factors: · Admission fee · Oncologist fee · Patient’s age · Medical condition of the patient · Type of blood cancer treatment plan · Type of hospital · Lab tests which include X-ray, ECG, etc. Frequently Asked Questions: Which part of the body can get affected by Cancer? Cancer can occur in any part of the body, and they are usually painless and present as swellings or growths. They gradually enlarge and damage the surrounding tissue. What type of Blood Cancer is curable? Leukaemia can be cured, which equally affects children and adults. It is cancer in blood-forming tissues and produces abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. Is Blood Cancer transmittable? Cancer is a non-communicable disease that does not spread from one person to another. Certain cancers might have a hereditary cause, meaning a person is at higher risk of getting cancer if his/her family has specific cancer. These cancers are breast, ovarian, colorectal, and other common cancers. How is Blood Cancer detected? The Common Blood Count (CBC) test measures the number of various blood cells in your blood. If too many blood cells or abnormal cells are found, blood cancer can be detected. How does Cancer spread so fast? Malignant tumors tend to grow faster than other tumors. Cancer grows as it invades the surrounding structures and causes damage. It spreads to the draining lymph nodes and through the bloodstream to other body parts like the lung, liver, bones, brain, etc. How is Cancer treated? Cancer can be treated through surgery, drugs, and radiation. Treatment usually requires more than one type of treatment, like surgery with radiation or drugs.