Blood Cancers

Your blood is living tissue made up of liquid and solids. The liquid part, called plasma, is made of water, salts and protein. Over half of your blood is plasma. The solid part of your blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Red blood cells deliver oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and organs. White blood cells fight infection and are part of your body's defense system. Platelets help blood to clot. Bone marrow, the spongy material inside your bones, makes new blood cells. Blood cells constantly die and your body makes new ones. Red blood cells live about 120 days, platelets six days and white cells less than one day.

There are many types of blood disorders, including: bleeding disorders, platelet disorders, bone marrow disorders, hemophilia and anemia. There are also several cancers of the blood including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma.