History of Blood Cancer

Throughout history, various types of blood cancers have afflicted the human race.

Types

• The three main types of blood cancer are lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma. Each varies slightly in terms of treatment, prognosis and symptoms. Leukemia affects the bone marrow and lymph nodes. Lymphoma is a cancer that affects lymphocytes, which are types of white blood cells. Multiple myeloma attacks bone marrow due to increased white blood cell production.

Lymphoma

• In 1832, Thomas Hodgkin, a British doctor, published the first description of lymphoma. A form of the disease is now named after him. Today, the disease is classified into two groups: Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's forms. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, cancerous cells spread throughout the body, usually affecting people in their 20s or people over age 50. By contrast, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs predominantly in Caucasians over the age of 60 and is the more prevalent form.

Leukemia

• The word "leukemia" comes from two Greek words: "leukos," meaning white, and "aima," meaning blood. The ancient Greeks first noted the illness in the fourth or fifth century B.C. However, the disease may have existed for millions of years. In 1932, Louis Leakey, an anthropologist, discovered a jawbone belonging to Homo erectus showing evidence that the disease could have existed among our oldest ancestors. The disease was first officially diagnosed in Edinburgh, Scotland, by John Hughes Benett in 1845.

Multiple Myeloma

• Although multiple myeloma has likely been afflicting humans for thousands of years, it wasn't until 1844 that the first well-documented case was recorded. The patient, Sarah Newbury, developed fatigue and bone pain, and during her autopsy, Dr. Samuel Solly found a red substance was present in her bone marrow.
  These days, the disease is primarily treated with chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants.

Famous Sufferer

• Mary Travers of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary suffered from leukemia, but has since recovered.