Blood cancers

Quick facts about blood cancer

• Blood cancer occurs when one of the three types of blood cells which are produced in our bone marrow (the soft tissue inside our bones) grow in an uncontrolled and abnormal way

• There are three types of blood cells which cancer can form in, including red blood cells (which deliver oxygen to the body), white blood cells (which help fight infection and disease) and platelets (which help the blood to clot and therefore prevent us from bleeding)

Overview

Blood cancer occurs when abnormal blood cells in the bone marrow grow uncontrollably and reduce normal blood cell production.

These abnormal blood cells reduce normal blood cell production. They then enter the blood stream, spread throughout the body and reduce your ability to fight infection.

Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, is the fifth most common cancer in Singapore for men and sixth most common for women.¹

When something is wrong with your blood, it can affect your overall health and impact your day to day life. A general practitioner will likely refer you to a haematologist, a specialist doctor who treats blood-related disorders and cancers, for diagnosis, treatment and management of your condition.