Treating blood cancers is difficult as the circulatory system moves blood throughout the body. If the blood is infected in one region of the body, that infection can spread to the entire body in a very short period. Chemotherapy and radiation have been used in attempts to destroy the abnormal cells. However, as the body is already in a weakened state, most patients are not strong enough to undergo chemotherapy. Normal blood cells are also destroyed in chemotherapy, decreasing the blood count even more and blood transfusions are needed immediately.
There are many other side effects of chemotherapy, many of which the weakened immune system cannot take. The body is already at risk of infection due to its lack of infection fighting antibodies and white blood cells. Chemotherapy further depletes the strength of the immune system and body. Therefore, chemotherapy is not the ideal treatment method for blood cancers.
Bone marrow transplants are another option that many have availed. However, finding the perfect match for bone marrow can be difficult. The body must also accept the bone marrow. In some cases, the bone marrow transplant is rejected, putting the patient in further distress.