Understanding Blood Cancer   

• While many people link cancer to family history, medical experts say most blood cancers are acquired genetic disorders rather than inherited conditions. Unlike some breast or colon cancers tied to inherited mutations, diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma typically stem from DNA mutations that develop during a person’s lifetime, not from genes passed down by parents. According to Seo Jeong-ho, a professor at Kyung Hee University Hospital, environmental triggers such as radiation exposure, toxic chemicals like benzene, and the natural aging process can cause cumulative DNA damage. The pattern is especially clear in multiple myeloma, in which more than 80% of patients are elderly. As people age, the body’s ability to repair genetic errors declines, increasing vulnerability. Early detection can be difficult because symptoms are often vague and subtle. Persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, and unexplained bruising are frequently dismissed as minor issues. Physicians recommend paying attention to routine complete blood count tests. Ongoing abnormalities in red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets can signal trouble for your health. Although blood cancers spread through the bloodstream rather than forming solid tumors, advances in immunotherapy and stem cell transplantation are steadily improving survival rates, particularly when the disease is diagnosed early. J.K. Park Senior Reporter junior/1772673098/1613368089