Jakarta (ANTARA) – An internal medicine specialist at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) Jakarta said blood cancer is one of the most vulnerable diseases experienced by the elderly (elderly).
“Excessive growth of blood cell production in the bone marrow causes blood cancer,” said Nadia Ayu Mulandari, a specialist in Internal Medicine Consultant Hematology Oncology at RSCM Jakarta, in a virtual discussion attended by Zoom in Jakarta, Wednesday.
He said that currently there are three main types of blood cancer, including: Lymphoma as cancer of the lymphatic system, especially the lymph nodes.
This type of cancer is influenced by a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. More than half of blood cancer cases Lymphoma diagnosed in adults.
Second, Leukemia which prevents white blood cells from fighting infection in the human body. Leukemia can be acute (fast-growing) or chronic (slow-growing) and affects lymphocytes or other cells (myeloid leukemia).
Third, is Myeloma as plasma cell cancer that can affect the human immune system so that it is susceptible to infectious diseases.
Early detection is common, such as low hemoglobin (Hb), high leukocytes, and low platelets. “Blood cancers that occur in people aged 70 years or older, represent 45 percent of the total cases,” he said.
A number of cases diagnosed, he said, generally patients complained of weakness, fever, joint pain, drastic weight loss, enlarged spleen or decreased platelets and others.
“Some of the symptoms of blood cancer can be vague and difficult to identify. Most people with these symptoms would not expect to have blood cancer,” he said.
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