Each year, approximately 40,000 people in the UK receive a diagnosis of blood cancer, which ranks third in cancer mortality rates. Despite this, only about 1% of the population feel confident recognizing its symptoms. Dr Rupa Parmar, GP and director of Midland Health, emphasizes the importance of understanding the warning signs to enable early intervention.
Blood cancer symptoms can vary widely depending on the type and individual, but certain signs are common across most cases. One of the most frequent indicators is unexplained bruising. Blood cancer reduces healthy platelet counts, which impairs blood clotting. This means that minor bumps, or sometimes even no apparent injury, can cause bleeding under the skin. Bruises may appear in unusual places, such as the hands, and are often tender. In individuals with darker skin tones, bruises might be harder to detect visually, so look for discoloration or darker patches.
Unexplained weight loss is another significant symptom. Cancer cells interfere with the body’s ability to absorb fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, leading to a higher calorie burn and subsequent weight drop without any clear cause.
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Additionally, blood cancer can weaken the immune system by reducing healthy white blood cells, making infections more frequent, severe, or longer-lasting than usual. Any infections that feel worse than typical should prompt immediate medical attention, as they can hint at blood cancer and pose serious risks.
Bloating is also common due to fluid accumulation or enlarged organs like the spleen and liver caused by abnormal white blood cell buildup.
Pallor, or unnatural paleness, particularly on the face and palms, is a telltale sign of anemia linked to blood cancer. For those with darker skin, pallor may appear more subtly on the tongue or gums with a greyish tint. A simple way to check is by pulling down the lower eyelid—if the inner lining is pale pink or white, this indicates pallor.
Unexplained joint pain should not be ignored. Blood cancer cells can gather in the joints and bone marrow, causing swelling, dull aches, or sharp pains, often in the arms, legs, ribs, or hips.
Swollen lymph nodes, commonly found in the neck, armpits, or groin, may result from the accumulation of abnormal white blood cells. These lumps are often painless but can cause discomfort.
Night sweats are another key symptom. They occur as the body mounts an inflammatory response against the cancer, causing an imbalance in temperature regulation and resulting in excessive sweating at night, even if sufferers never experienced this before.
Dr Parmar advises: “If you notice any of these symptoms persisting for more than two weeks, seek medical advice promptly. Early detection dramatically improves outcomes, with survival rates exceeding 80-90% when blood cancer is caught at stage one.”
Promptly recognizing these signs and consulting a healthcare professional can be lifesaving.