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Blood Cancer Diagnosis

Each year in the U.S., about 140,000 people are diagnosed with some type of blood cancer. About 53,000 die from it. Blood cancer occurs when blood cells multiply uncontrollably and do not function properly. Expert lab personnel diagnose blood cancer.

  1. Normal Blood

    • Blood consists of two groups of blood cells: red blood cells and white blood cells. Red blood cells help in the delivery of oxygen to the body from the lungs. White blood cells fight infection.

    Cancer

    • Cancers are named according to the cells that are involved. In the case of blood cancer, cancerous blood cells are different in size and shape from normal cells. They also do not function properly.

    Hematologists

    • Professionals who specialize in studying blood are hematologists. They identify abnormal cells in a blood sample and report their findings to cancer specialists. This aids in the diagnosis and treatment of the blood cancer since not all are treated the same.

    Leukemia and Lymphoma

    • Leukemia is a cancer of the blood in which the cancerous cells are in the bone marrow. Lymphomas are solid masses of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) usually found in the lymph nodes.

    Diagnosis

    • When abnormal blood cells are seen in a blood sample, they are identified as leukemia or lymphoma by their size and shape. Abnormal white blood cells will be much larger than normal. While the test requires a vial of blood and a microscope, the most essential part of diagnosing a blood cancer is a hematologist with experience.

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