Bone marrow cancer is a type of group cancer that starts in the blood cells within your bone marrow. This sponge-like material inside the bones is where stem cells develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It’s important to note that bone marrow cancer is different from bone cancer.
When bone marrow cancer appears, cells in the bone marrow start growing and multiplying uncontrollably. Some main types of this cancer are leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Symptoms can change depending on the cancer type but often include fatigue, pain, and unexpected weight loss.
Doctors, specifically an oncologist (cancer specialist) and a hematologist (blood disorder specialist), typically collaborate to treat bone marrow cancer. They might use treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and stem cell transplantation.
Bone marrow cancers affect different blood cells. Blood cells typically originate as stem cells in the bone marrow, maturing into various functional blood cells. White blood cells are essential for fighting infections, red blood cells transport oxygen, and platelets are crucial for blood clotting.
Leukemia is a cancer that targets white blood cells. In people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells that don’t die at a normal rate, leading to their accumulation and interfering with the production of healthy blood cells. Multiple myeloma causes an overproduction of plasma cells, which can lead to bone loss and increased infection risk.
Lymphoma involves the rapid and uncontrollable multiplication of lymphocyte cells, which are part of the immune system. This cancer can develop in various lymphatic tissues or nodes and possibly spread to bone marrow. Myeloproliferative neoplasms are another group of bone marrow cancers affecting stem cells, leading to an overproduction that impacts white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
Myelodysplastic syndromes occur when blood-making cells in the bone marrow grow abnormally, potentially leading to leukemia. Symptoms of bone marrow cancer depend on which blood cells are involved and typically cause a person to feel unwell. Low counts of specific blood cells, like white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets, can result in different symptoms depending on the affected type.
The underlying cause of bone marrow cancer often remains unknown, but certain risk factors exist for each type. These include previous radiation exposure, family history of bone marrow cancer, and smoking. Genetic factors, like those related to Down syndrome or neurofibromatosis, or infections like the Epstein-Barr virus, can raise leukemia risk. The likelihood of multiple myeloma can increase with age, being male at birth, African American ancestry, or obesity. Myeloproliferative neoplasms are more common in older individuals, with specific types differing in likelihood between sexes.
Doctors use various tests to diagnose bone marrow cancers, starting with a physical exam and medical history, followed by blood tests or imaging like CT, MRI, PET scans, or X-rays. Treatment for bone marrow cancer varies based on the type and stage of cancer, along with the patient’s overall health.
While the exact cause might be unknown, reducing modifiable risk factors like quitting smoking and managing obesity can help. The presence of bone marrow cancer increases the risk of developing other cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, or in people diagnosed with leukemia, other types of cancer later on.
Bone marrow cancer can seriously impact your life, with numerous healthcare visits for treatment, side effect management, and monitoring for complications. The prognosis depends on the cancer type, its progression, and the patient’s health, typically measured by the 5-year survival rate. Multiple myeloma might not be curable but is manageable, with a 77.5% 5-year survival rate if diagnosed early. For leukemia, the prognosis depends on the type and age of the patient, with children having a 90% 5-year survival rate for acute lymphocytic leukemia. The overall 5-year survival rate for leukemia is about 66.7%.
To minimize complications or recurrence risks, adopting healthy habits like avoiding smoking, controlling weight, exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, and limiting alcohol intake is recommended.
