Haematological Cancers

What Are Hematologic Cancers?

Hematologic cancers—also known as blood cancers or hematologic malignancies—arise when abnormal cells in the bone marrow, blood, or lymphatic system grow uncontrollably.

These cancers disrupt the normal production and functionality of blood cells, impairing vital processes like immunity, oxygen delivery, and clotting.

Main Types

Leukaemias: The cancer cells originate in the bone marrow and also circulate in the blood. The disease involves the excessive proliferation of abnormal white blood cells, which interfere with the formation of healthy blood cells. There are many different types of leukaemias, both acute and chronic and with different types of cells involved.
Lymphoma – Affects lymphocytes within the lymphatic system. It’s broadly classified into:

Hodgkin lymphoma, distinguished by Reed–Sternberg cells
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, covering a diverse array of lymphocyte-derived cancers.

Multiple Myeloma – Develops in plasma cells (antibody-producing cells) within the bone marrow, compromising immune function and often affecting the bones.

Beyond these, other related conditions include myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), which can impair blood cell maturation or lead to excessive production of blood cells.

Signs & Symptoms

Although symptoms can vary widely depending on the type and location of the cancer, common warning signs include:

Unexplained fatigue, frequent infections, fever
Easy bruising or bleeding, swollen lymph nodes
Persistent bone pain (especially in myeloma).

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis typically involves a combination of blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, imaging studies, and sometimes tissue biopsy—depending on the suspected type.
Treatment is tailored to each specific type and the patient’s condition. Options may include chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplantation, or advanced treatments like CAR T cell therapy.