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When it comes to cancer, some potential symptoms—like a breast lump or a wonky-looking mole—might ring more alarm bells than others. But what about if you have things like fatigue, nosebleeds, or a recurring UTI? These everyday health issues aren’t usually related to each other or majorly concerning. But when they add up, they can sometimes be the first signs of blood cancer, which is actually a group of diseases that have become more prevalent in recent years.
Each type impacts the body a bit differently, but generally speaking, they usually affect the blood, bone marrow, or lymphatic system. For example, polycythemia vera causes the body to make too many red blood cells. Leukemia, on the other hand, develops when there are too many white blood cells, and lymphoma affects the lymphatic system, which is a delicate network of tubes that, when it’s working as it should, removes excess fluid from your body and makes immune cells that fight infections.
Although the rise in these diseases has only been increasing modestly, it’s still an upward trajectory worth paying attention to. Here’s a look at what may be causing the uptick and the symptoms that should be on your radar.
Understanding the upward trend
Blood cancer rates have been steadily increasing globally since 1990. So much so that new cases of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma accounted for an estimated 9.4% of new cancer cases in the United States last year. The one bit of good news? Even though more people are getting sick, mortality rates have dipped considerably, thanks to better detection and treatments. The five-year survival rate for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), for example, has more than tripled since the mid-’70s. Since 2006, the incidence of leukemia has increased by an average of 0.6% per year, while mortality has decreased by an average of 1.5%. Research has also shown a trend toward improved survival among people with rare blood cancers like polycythemia vera and myelofibrosis. While better outcomes bring hope to those with the disease, these numbers still beg the question: What’s fueling the uptick?
There’s no single cause, Shane Dormady, MD, the director of medical oncology at the El Camino Health Cancer Center in California, tells SELF. But a big contributor may simply be that there are more people in the 55-plus age group than ever before, and blood cancer rates generally shoot up in late adulthood. That means baby boomers are at higher risk for cancers like these simply because they are aging, Dr. Dormady says. Better detection may also be contributing to the higher numbers.
While it’s good news that people are living longer with these cancers, being able to spot the early signs is vital. This way, you can pick up on them as early as possible and loop in your doctor.
Some of the early symptoms of blood cancer include:
- Persistent fever and chills
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue and daytime tiredness
- Frequent infections
- Unexpected loss of appetite and weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Bruising easily
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Regular nosebleeds
- Bone or joint pain
- Sweating, especially at night
This list probably doesn’t make you think “potential cancer,” even if you have several symptoms. In fact, some of these sound more like stress or perimenopause—joint pain, night sweats, weakness, tiredness—than any type of potentially life-threatening condition.
Related: 4 Things to Know About a Rare Blood Cancer Diagnosis
Diagnosing blood cancer
If you occasionally experience just a few of these symptoms, there’s probably nothing to be concerned about. But if you’re coping with more than a handful and they’re worsening as time goes on, you should check in with your health care provider. The good news is that it doesn’t require extensive testing to determine whether something like lymphoma or a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is to blame for your symptoms, Yasser Khaled, MD, a hematologist, oncologist, and medical director of the cellular therapy program at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, tells SELF. Standard lab work called a complete blood count, or CBC, is all that’s needed. This test measures the amount of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and other features of your blood. If the counts are too high or too low, it could indicate a number of issues, including infection, immune system disorders, or blood diseases like anemia, as well as blood cancers. Your doc can break down your results and tell you exactly what may be going on.
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Another test you might have is a metabolic profile, which measures fats, proteins, glucose, electrolytes, and enzymes, which can all indicate how well your organs are working. If these tests pick up on a major issue with your blood, you’ll be referred to a specialist—a hematologist/oncologist who can determine if cancer might be causing your symptoms.
Like any medical condition, early detection can ensure you get the most effective treatment, Dr. Dormady says. But even if you’ve been experiencing these symptoms for some time, treatment can still be a powerful way to increase your longevity. So there’s hope, even if you’ve had the condition for a while.
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