. Blood cancers occur when abnormal blood cells start growing out of control, interrupting the function of normal blood cells, which fight off infection and produce new blood cells. The three main types of blood cancer are leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma: Leukemia is a blood cancer that originates in the blood and bone marrow. It occurs when the body creates too many abnormal white blood cells and interferes with the bone marrow’s ability to make red blood cells and platelets. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system from cells called lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections. Hodgkin lymphoma is a blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system from cells called lymphocytes. Hodgkin lymphoma is characterized by the presence of an abnormal lymphocyte called the Reed-Sternberg cell. Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that begins in the blood’s plasma cells, a type of white blood cell made in the bone marrow. Some common blood cancer symptoms include:

Fever, chills Persistent fatigue, weakness Loss of appetite, nausea Unexplained weight loss Night sweats Bone/joint pain Abdominal discomfort Headaches Shortness of breath Frequent infections Itchy skin or skin rash Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms or groin