September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of cancers that begin in the blood, bone marrow, or lymphatic system.

While breast, lung, and colon cancers are widely recognized, blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma affect hundreds of thousands of Americans each year — and they often present in ways that are less visible than solid tumors.

Leukemia

Leukemia begins in the bone marrow, where the body produces blood cells.

In leukemia, the marrow makes abnormal white blood cells that grow uncontrollably, crowding out healthy red cells, platelets, and infection-fighting white cells. This imbalance can lead to symptoms like fatigue, frequent infections, fever, or easy bruising and bleeding.

There are several types of leukemia:

• Acute leukemias (such as acute myeloid leukemia, AML, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL) progress quickly and require urgent treatment.

• Chronic leukemias (like chronic lymphocytic leukemia, CLL, and chronic myeloid leukemia, CML) often progress more slowly, and in some cases, patients live with the disease for years with regular monitoring.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system — the body’s network of lymph nodes, spleen, and other tissues that help filter harmful substances and fight infections. Cancerous lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) build up and interfere with immune system function.

The two main categories are:

• Hodgkin lymphoma, often diagnosed in young adults, which has become one of the most curable forms of cancer with modern therapies.

• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which includes many different subtypes, ranging from slow-growing forms to aggressive diseases that need rapid treatment.

Common signs include painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin, as well as night sweats, unexplained fevers, and weight loss.

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma develops in plasma cells, specialized white blood cells that produce antibodies. In this cancer, abnormal plasma cells multiply in the bone marrow and interfere with normal blood production. They can also release proteins that damage bones and kidneys.

Symptoms may include persistent bone pain (especially in the back or ribs), frequent infections, anemia-related fatigue, and high calcium levels in the blood. Like many cancers, myeloma outcomes have improved significantly with the introduction of targeted therapies, stem cell transplants, and newer immunotherapies.

Risk Factors and Advances in Care

While the exact causes of blood cancers aren’t always clear, age, family history, certain genetic changes, and environmental exposures may contribute. Unlike many solid tumors, lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise play a smaller role in development, though healthy living supports better outcomes during and after treatment.

The good news is that advances in research are transforming how we treat blood cancers. New targeted drugs, new approaches to bone marrow transplant, CAR-T cell therapies, and monoclonal antibodies are helping patients live longer, healthier lives.

Clinical trials remain a critical path to improving treatments and offer hope to those with advanced or hard-to-treat disease.

The Bottom Line

Blood cancers may not form a lump or tumor you can feel, but they are just as serious as other cancers. Awareness of the symptoms — including unexplained fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, swollen lymph nodes, persistent fevers, or bone pain — is essential.

If you notice any of these warning signs, don’t wait. Reach out to your primary care doctor or a hematology/oncology specialist. Early evaluation and treatment can make a life-saving difference.

Abdalla Sholi, M.D., is the medical director of Medical Oncology at UPMC Hillman Cancer Centers in Coudersport, Wellsboro, and Williamsport. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is one of the largest integrated cancer networks in the U.S. To learn more, visit UPMC.com/CancerNCPA.