Oncology
What is "blood" cancer?
The major forms of "blood" cancer are lymphoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma. These cancers are formed either in the bone marrow or in the lymphatic tissues of the body. They affect the way the body makes blood cells and provides immunity from other diseases.
The "blood" cancers all involve an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells within bone marrow and then the blood.
Leukaemia literally means “many white cells in the blood”. There are many types of leukaemia, each of which is classified according to the exact cell type affected by the disease.
Lymphoma is a broad term encompassing a variety of cancers affecting the lymphoïd cells generally located in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system helps filter out bacteria and is important in fighting disease. In lymphoma, some of the cells in the lymph system multiply uncontrollably.
Who gets cancer?
Cancer doesn't discriminate when it comes to race, sex or age — anyone can get cancer.
Ten to twelve million cases of cancer occur worldwide annually. There are 3 million new cancer cases per year in Europe (38 countries), with 2 million new cases in the EU25 alone. This represents 340 new cases / 100,000 people per year.
One in three men and one in four women will be directly affected by cancer in the first 75 years of life.
1 Association European Cancer Leagues. Cancer In Europe. Facts and Figures 2005