Blood cancer: as we know it

Blood cancers interfere with the formation and function of your blood cells. The majority of these cancers start in the bone marrow, which is the site of blood production. The three types of blood cells that grow and mature in your bone marrow are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

The uncontrolled proliferation of an abnormal type of blood cell disrupts the normal development of blood cells in most blood malignancies. These cancerous cells, also known as abnormal blood cells, inhibit your blood from performing a variety of functions, including fighting infections and preventing catastrophic bleeding.

Blood tumours are classified into three types:

Leukaemia

Lymphoma

Myeloma

The condition in India

The burden of cancer can have far-reaching consequences for people as well as have a major impact on the social layers of the country. Many people in India die of blood cancer because of the inescapable costs of therapy, followed by exceedingly expensive aftercare.

Blood cancers interfere with the formation and function of your blood cells. The majority of these cancers start in the bone marrow, which is the site of blood production. The three types of blood cells that grow and mature in your bone marrow are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

The uncontrolled proliferation of an abnormal type of blood cell disrupts the normal development of blood cells in most blood malignancies. These cancerous cells, also known as abnormal blood cells, inhibit your blood from performing a variety of functions, including fighting infections and preventing catastrophic bleeding. Blood tumours are classified into three types: Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma.

A study suggests that India positions third most noteworthy in reported instances of blood cancer after China and US and affects more than seventy thousand people in the country.

Dr. Sandeep Nemani dedicated his life to treating patients with blood malignancies. He has been fascinated by haematology since his medical school days. Vellore’s prestigious Christian Medical College awarded him a DM in Clinical Haematology. Dr. Nemani established a Bone Marrow Transplant Center at Shri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Cancer Hospital in Miraj and has vast experience in stem cell and bone marrow transplants.

The challenge

According to Dr. Nemani, people in Miraj and Sangli, for instance, lacked access to effective blood cancer treatment. They were forced to travel to Mumbai or Pune for treatment. It was sometimes difficult to get to these locations due to distance and finances. He saw the problem and decided to close the gap between patients and treatment by bringing the service closer to them.

He shares, “In this region of the country, we’ve also started doing bone marrow transplants. Sangli and Miraj have a long history of producing outstanding doctors in practically every field. For a long period, this region lacked haematological services. Patients were travelling to metro areas like Pune and Mumbai for diagnosis and treatment of a variety of haematological illnesses, which posed both financial and logistical challenges. Considering this, we are pleased that Sangli-Miraj now offers world-class haematological care.”

Solution and Impact

Dr. Sandeep remembers treating his first patient with blood cancer in Sangli at Usha Haematology Center. The patient was a 30-year-old man who had been diagnosed with blood malignancy. They needed to get his bone marrow transplant done after they treated him. As a result, Dr. Nemani suggested that it be completed in a metropolis. The patient refused and insisted on being treated in his hospital. Dr. Nemani performed his first bone marrow transplant in Sangli after the patient requested it, and it was a success.

The patient is now in good health and has two children.

Dr. Nemani, who is a senior oncologist on HealthPlix platform, has treated a dozen patients in this location so far, with a 70% success rate.

It is imperative for India to have doctors like Dr. Nemani who have gone above and beyond their means and brought healthcare to remote towns and even treated patients free of cost, arranging reports, organising therapy, and advanced technologies.