Blood cancers, also called haematological cancers, are the most commonly diagnosed cancer cases in the country. According to a report prepared by the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, India has the third-highest number of haematological cancers in the world with approximately 48 thousand cases just for leukemia (a type of blood...

What is Chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is a medicine which kills any fast-growing cancer cells that are dividing and reproducing out of control. Cancerous cells replicate and divide at a faster rate than normal cells. Chemotherapy tries to control this abnormal behavior by killing such cells. This treatment also attacks the healthy cells of one’s body, which...

Anemia is a condition which is characterised by low levels of red blood cells in the blood. It is diagnosed by a low haemoglobin count while having a standard blood test. Haemoglobin is the protein found in the red blood cells which transports and distributes oxygen throughout the body. So, if a person has anemia,...

What is a bleeding disorder? Bleeding disorders are usually characterized by a body’s inability to form blood clots. Blood clots are essential: In case of any injuries, they block and plug up any holes and prevent the loss and escape of blood from your body. This is an especially important process when the body experiences...

What is anemia? Anemia is a fall in hemoglobin. Nutritional anemia is the most common cause of anemia in Indian women. Haemoglobin, the component in red blood cells that helps blood carry oxygen throughout the body, is made up of iron, a mineral found in the human body. If you don't get enough iron, your...

Anemia is characterised by a lack of red blood cells. The major protein in your red blood cells is haemoglobin. It transports and distributes oxygen throughout your body. If you have anemia, the amount of haemoglobin in your body will be below average. Anemia is diagnosed by low haemoglobin or hematocrit level on a standard...

What is leukemia? Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that occurs when the number of white blood cells in your body increases. Healthy WBCs keep bacteria, viruses, and fungus out of your body. But in leukemia, WBCs don't work normally. They grow excessively and crowd out red blood cells and platelets. Symptoms The symptoms...

What is sickle cell disease? Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of hereditary blood disorders. Individuals with SCD don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Healthy red blood cells are spherical and disc-shaped. When a person has sickle cell anaemia, their red blood cells change shape and become...

A blood count test provides a variety of details about your health and wellbeing. For instance, a low red blood cell count shows that you have anaemia, while a low white blood cell count could mean you have neutropenia—a condition that puts you at higher risk for infection. Low platelet count tells you that there...

Haemophilia is an inherited blood clotting disorder. People with haemophilia have issues where their blood does not clot properly, and healing takes longer than usual. The bleeding disorder occurs because a protein that aids blood clotting is deficient in the blood plasma. Haemophilia can be categorised into two: haemophilia A and haemophilia B. Individuals with...