Specialist Doctor At RSCM Jakarta Calls Elderly Vulnerable To Blood Cancer

JAKARTA - An internal medicine specialist at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) Jakarta, Nadia Ayu Mulandari, said that blood cancer is one of the most vulnerable diseases experienced by the elderly (elderly). This is triggered as the immune system decreases and the individual's level of awareness of the symptoms is low.

"Excessive growth of blood cell production in the bone marrow causes blood cancer," said Nadia in a virtual discussion attended by Zoom in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, June 8.

He said that currently there are three main types of blood cancer, including Lymphoma as cancer of the lymphatic system, especially the lymph nodes.

This type of cancer is influenced by a type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte. More than half of diagnosed cases of lymphoma blood cancer are experienced in adults.

Second, Leukemia which prevents white blood cells from fighting infection in the human body. Leukemia can be acute (fast-growing) or chronic (slow-growing) and affects lymphocytes or other cells (myeloid leukemia).

Third, is Myeloma as a plasma cell cancer that can affect the human immune system so that it is susceptible to infectious diseases.

Nadia said the etiology of blood cancer is largely unknown. However, the underlying causative mechanism could be a decrease in adaptive immunity and is strongly related to the age of the individual.

Early detection is common, such as low hemoglobin (Hb), high leukocytes, and low platelets. "Blood cancers that occur in people aged 70 years or older, represent 45 percent of the total cases," he said.

He said the body's cells have the ability to divide and will die to be replaced with new cells. As a person ages, the ability of the normal process of cell division decreases so that the process is not perfect and mutates to become malignant.

A number of cases diagnosed, he said, generally patients complained of weakness, fever, joint pain, drastic weight loss, enlarged spleen or decreased platelets and others.

"Some of the symptoms of blood cancer can be vague and difficult to identify. Most people with these symptoms would not expect to have blood cancer," he said.

In the event entitled "Love Our Elderly With Early Detection of Blood Cancer" in commemoration of World Blood Cancer Day 2022 which falls on May 28, 2021, Nadia invites the public to raise awareness of the dangers of blood cancer.

"If there are complaints, don't delay, immediately access health services for early detection. Generally, patients come in weak or bleeding that suddenly turns blue or the blood doesn't dry up even though the wound is small," he said.