Know what cancer is to defeat it.

There are five main categories of cancer:

• Carcinomas begin in the skin or tissues that line the internal organs.

• Sarcomas develop in the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle or other connective tissues.

• Leukemia begins in the blood and bone marrow.

• Lymphomas start in the immune system.

• Central nervous system cancers develop in the brain and spinal cord.

The three main treatments are:

• Surgery: directly removing the tumor

• Chemotherapy: using chemicals to kill cancer cells

• Radiation therapy: using X-rays to kill cancer cells

Hematology is the study of blood in health and disease. It includes problems with the red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and the proteins involved in bleeding and clotting (hemostasis and thrombosis). A hematologist is a medical doctor who applies this specialized knowledge to treat patients with blood conditions.

Why Should I Know About Blood Conditions?

When something is wrong with your blood, it can affect your total health. That is why it is important for you to know about some of the common blood disorders that may affect you.

People may be affected by many different types of blood conditions and blood cancers. Common blood disorders include anemia, bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, blood clots, and blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.

Talking to your doctor is the first step to take if you believe you may have a blood condition. If you are diagnosed with a blood disorder, your doctor may refer you to a hematologist.

https://www.hematology.org/Patients/Blood-Disorders.aspx