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Blood cancer

What is blood cancer?

Blood cancer includes cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow or lymphatic system. There are three main groups, and within each group there are different types:

  • Leukaemia – including acute, chronic, myeloid and lymphocytic.
  • Lymphoma – including Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin.
  • Myeloma.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of the three main types of blood cancer in adults (leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma) can be vague, but it’s important to contact your GP practice if you notice the following:

  • Swollen lymph nodes (lumps in your neck, armpits or groins), especially if they remain swollen for 6 weeks or more.
  • Fatigue.
  • Drenching night sweats.
  • Rash or itchy skin that is unexplained.
  • Paleness.
  • Bruising or bleeding with no obvious cause.
  • Losing weight without trying.
  • New shortness of breath.
  • Infections that are persistent or keep coming back after treatment.
  • Pain in your bones or abdomen (tummy).

In most cases these symptoms will be a sign of something less serious than cancer. However if you are experiencing unusual or persistent symptoms, it’s always best to contact your GP practice to get checked as soon as possible.

Peter Maclean

Peter Maclean, Director of Cancer Services, NHS Ayrshire & Arran

There are a number of different types of blood cancer, but most are manageable long term with an ever-increasing range of therapies becoming available. It is always beneficial to make a diagnosis early, either to increase the likelihood of cure or to minimise the harm caused by the condition. For those diagnosed, most will be managed as outpatients with an intention to allow their normal lives to continue as much as possible.

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What's involved in getting checked?

As the symptoms of blood cancer can be quite vague, often people delay speaking to their GP practice because they feel like they will be wasting time. But your GP practice won’t think this – they will want to hear from you.

Because when cancer is found at an earlier stage, more treatment options could be available.

Your concerns will be listened to and, depending on what you’re experiencing, the primary care clinician may:

  • Ask for more information on when your symptoms started and whether anything makes them better or worse.
  • Arrange for you to have blood tests.
  • Refer you to the hospital for further tests.

Real stories

Graeme Clark

My advice to anyone concerned about a possible symptom is to contact your GP practice immediately. It doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened if I’d not been diagnosed at that point. Go with your gut if you feel something is wrong. Don’t google it or sit and worry about it, put your trust in the professionals. Regretting doing nothing is so not worth it.

Graeme Clark, 36 from Edinburgh was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in late November 2017, around two weeks after he had started experiencing symptoms that weren’t normal for him.
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