The Heartbreaking Way Blood Cancers Cause Death

According to City of Hope, blood cancers, also known as hematologic cancers, begin in the bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made — or in the lymphatic system. These cancers develop when abnormal blood cells grow out of control, crowding out healthy cells and interfering with their ability to function. Because normal blood cells are responsible for fighting infections, transporting oxygen, and clotting blood, this disruption can have serious consequences, including death.

The three most common types of blood cancer are leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Each affects a different type of blood or immune cell, but all originate in the bone marrow or lymphatic system. Some rare disorders, such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), also fall under the blood cancer umbrella due to their impact on how blood cells are produced or function.

Blood cancers are often fatal because they can cripple the body's blood and immune systems, leading to infection, organ failure, or bleeding that the body can no longer control. For example, leukemia can lead to death when the bone marrow can no longer produce enough healthy blood cells, leaving the body vulnerable to life-threatening infections, severe anemia, or uncontrollable bleeding. In advanced stages, multi-organ failure may occur due to the spread of leukemia cells or complications from treatment. Even aggressive therapies can cause fatal side effects in some cases. (It could be a warning sign of leukemia if your liver looks like this.)

On the other hand, lymphoma (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin are two types of lymphoma) can cause death by damaging critical organs, overwhelming the bone marrow, or disrupting chemical balances in the body. Bone marrow failure leads to infections, internal bleeding, or lack of oxygen delivery to organs, while lymphoma in organs like the liver or lungs can cause those systems to shut down. In rare cases, thickened blood (hyperviscosity) reduces blood flow to the brain or heart, triggering stroke, heart attack, or loss of consciousness. 

Finally, people with late-stage multiple myeloma may die from complications like kidney failure, severe infections, or dangerously high calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia), which can lead to confusion, coma, and death. The disease also weakens the bones and disrupts blood cell production, increasing the risk of fractures, anemia, and bleeding. As multiple myeloma progresses, it can overwhelm vital organs and systems, leading to multi-organ failure. (Read about how cancer therapy has taken a major step forward for multiple myeloma patients.)

Early detection plays a critical role in having a successful treatment outcome with blood cancers, noting that treatment during the early stages can be more effective and less invasive. There is a wider range of treatments available when you catch it early. Additionally, when it's treated in a timely manner, many can achieve complete remission. Early diagnosis and treatment can also allow patients to avoid more serious complications such as infections and bleeding disorders. These factors all add up to a better quality of life.

According to City of Hope, symptoms of blood cancers often include fatigue, frequent infections, unexplained weight loss, bone pain, and swollen lymph nodes, though signs can vary depending on the specific type. Diagnosis typically involves blood tests, biopsies, and imaging to determine the extent of disease and guide treatment options, which may include chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplants, or targeted therapies.