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Blood cancer
Blood cancers affect blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. Cancerous cells prevent your blood from carrying out its normal functions. These include fighting off infections or preventing serious bleeding.
There are three types of blood cancer:
Leukaemia
Leukaemia affects the white blood cells that are made in the bone marrow. White blood cells are important because they protect the body from infection. Some types of leukaemia develop faster than others. Each type of leukaemia needs different treatment.
Myeloma
Myeloma is cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. It’s also known as multiple myeloma. In a healthy person, plasma cells help the body to fight infection. Myeloma cells prevent the normal production of antibodies, leaving your body’s immune system weakened.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system. It happens when a type of white blood cells (lymphocytes) develop abnormally.
Normally, lymphocytes help fight infection. Lymphoma affects the immune system. It can cause swellings in your neck, armpit, groin or deeper inside your body.
There are two types of lymphoma – Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Types of lymphoma blood cancer
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system. It happens when a type of white blood cells (lymphocytes) develop abnormally.
Normally, lymphocytes help fight infection. Lymphoma affects the immune system. It can cause swellings in your neck, armpit, groin or deeper inside your body.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) starts in the white blood cells (lymphocytes). White blood cells are part of the immune system.
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Treatment
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells. It’s used in the early stages of cancer treatment or after it has started to spread.
Condition
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
The main difference between Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma is that the cancer affects different white blood cells.
Condition
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin (or non-Hodgkin’s) lymphoma (NHL) starts in the white blood cells (lymphocytes).
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