Blood cancer is one of the most challenging diseases. Unlike cancers that form solid tumours, blood cancers affect the body’s bone marrow, blood, and lymphatic system. The areas that are important for our immunity.
Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the UAE, and blood cancers account for many of these cases. Despite better healthcare, many people are still diagnosed late, which lowers survival rates and makes treatment harder. Blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma are especially common here. Because of late diagnoses and tough treatments, raising awareness and providing full support is more important than ever.
Prevalence of Blood Cancer in the UAE
- According to the UAE National Cancer Registry, leukemias and non-Hodgkin lymphomas rank among the top ten most common cancers in the country, reflecting a notably higher proportion of hematologic malignancies.
- The 2023 registry reports 237 pediatric cancer cases (ages 0–14)—accounting for 3.3% of all invasive cancers. The most common include leukemia, brain/CNS tumors, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, bone, and renal cancers.
- In 2019, leukemia accounted for 7.1% of male cancer cases and non-Hodgkin lymphoma for 6.7%—highlighting their significant presence among adult malignancies.
These numbers show why early detection and public awareness matter. Many people miss early symptoms or think they are not serious, which means the cancer is often found at a later stage when treatment is harder. Spreading awareness and encouraging early screening can help improve outcomes.
Types of Blood Cancer
Blood cancer is not one disease but an umbrella term for several conditions. The three main types are:
1. Leukemia
- Starts in the bone marrow, where abnormal white blood cells are produced.
- These cells do not function properly and crowd out healthy red cells, white cells, and platelets.
- Types include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and chronic leukemias (CLL and CML).
2. Lymphoma
- Begins in the lymphatic system, which helps the body fight infections.
- Cancerous lymphocytes grow uncontrollably, affecting lymph nodes and organs.
- Main types are Hodgkin lymphoma (with specific Reed-Sternberg cells) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a wider group with many subtypes).
3. Myeloma
- A cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow.
- Prevents the body from making healthy antibodies, weakening the immune system.
- Causes bone damage, kidney issues, anemia, and recurrent infections.
Symptoms of Blood Cancer
Early symptoms are often unclear and can look like the flu, stress, or other common illnesses. But if these symptoms last or appear together, it’s important to pay attention:
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness
- Frequent infections or slow recovery from illness
- Fever or night sweats
- Sudden weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes (neck, armpit, groin)
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Bone or joint pain
- Pale skin and shortness of breath (due to anemia)
Noticing these signs and seeing a doctor early can make a big difference.
Treatment Methods in the UAE
The UAE has invested heavily in oncology services and offers advanced blood cancer treatments.
- Chemotherapy
- Uses strong drugs to destroy cancer cells.
- Still the backbone of treatment for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
- Radiation Therapy
- High-energy rays target cancer cells.
- Often used for lymphomas and localized tumors.
- Stem Cell (Bone Marrow) Transplant
- Replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy cells after high-dose chemotherapy.
- Increasingly available in the UAE, with centers expanding transplant programs for children and adults.
- Targeted Therapy
- Drugs designed to attack specific abnormalities in cancer cells (e.g., tyrosine kinase inhibitors in CML).
- Less damaging to healthy cells compared to chemotherapy.
- Immunotherapy
- Harnesses the immune system to fight cancer.
- Includes monoclonal antibodies (like Rituximab for lymphoma), checkpoint inhibitors.
Side Effects of Blood Cancer Treatments
While treatments save lives, they also bring challenges. Understanding side effects helps patients and families prepare for the journey:
- Chemotherapy: Nausea, hair loss, low blood counts, infections, fatigue, and mouth sores.
- Radiation: Skin irritation, fatigue, long-term risks like fertility issues (depending on the area treated).
- Stem Cell Transplants: Risk of infections, graft-versus-host disease (when donor cells attack the patient’s body)
- Targeted Therapy: Fewer side effects than chemo, but can cause skin rashes, diarrhea, or heart issues in some patients.
These side effects not only weaken the body but also impact a patient’s mental and emotional well-being. This is where integrative oncology plays an important role.
The Need for Integrative Oncology
Integrative oncology is not an alternative to medical treatment but a complement to it. It combines evidence-based supportive therapies with conventional cancer care to reduce side effects, boost immunity, and improve the overall quality of life of cancer patients.
- Nutrition therapy: Personlaised diets to strengthen immunity and manage treatment side effects.
- Mind-body practices: yoga, meditation, and counseling to reduce stress and improve emotional health.
- Herbal and natural support: Herbal formulations that are clinically tested and help improve the quality of life of cancer patients.
- Physical rehabilitation: exercises to restore strength and reduce fatigue.
It is important to remember that integrative oncology is a way for patients to better deal with the harsh effects of conventional cancer treatments. It is not a replacement.
Why Cancer Awareness Matters
Awareness is the first line of defense. In the UAE, many families still have limited knowledge about the early signs of blood cancer. This lack of recognition leads to late-stage diagnoses, when treatment is more complicated and outcomes are poorer.
Greater awareness can:
- Encourage people to seek medical help sooner.
- Improve survival rates through early diagnosis.
- Reduce the stigma around cancer, making families more open to screenings and treatment.
- Empower communities to support patients emotionally and financially.
Health campaigns, schools, workplaces, and community organizations all have a role to play. By shining a light on symptoms and the importance of checkups, the UAE can move toward earlier detection and better outcomes for patients.
Final Thoughts
Blood cancer remains a serious health challenge in the UAE, but the outlook is improving. With advanced treatments like stem cell transplants and immunotherapy becoming more widely available, survival rates are rising. At the same time, integrative oncology is helping patients cope with side effects and maintain strength through therapies such as nutrition, mind-body care, and supportive formulations like Body Revival.
Awareness is the first step. By recognizing symptoms early, seeking timely medical care, and embracing both modern and supportive therapies, patients and families in the UAE can face blood cancer with greater hope and resilience.