10 Dec, 2025
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10 Dec, 2025
This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Aditi Kaskar, Consultant – Hematology, Hemato-Oncology, & BMT Physician, HCG Cancer Centre, Borivali.
One of the first questions blood cancer patients and their relatives ask our hemato-oncologists is, "Is blood cancer curable?” or “Can blood cancer be cured?"
The answer is subjective, as a complete cure of blood cancer depends on various factors.
It is important for individuals, particularly those at higher risk of blood cancer, not to ignore the early warning signs of the disease. Early detection and timely and appropriate treatment significantly improve the overall survival.
Blood cancer, also known as hematological malignancy, starts in the bone marrow. Bone marrow produces various blood cells, such as red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. RBCs contain hemoglobin and carry oxygen. WBCs have an important role in fighting against infections. Platelets assist in blood clot formation and prevent bleeding.
Blood cancer impairs the production and function of these blood cells, as abnormal blood cells grow uncontrollably in patients with blood cancer. These excessive abnormal blood cells crowd out the healthy blood cells. This results in impairment of vital functions, such as fighting infection, transporting oxygen, and blood clotting.
As the number of healthy blood cells reduces in blood cancer, patients may experience fatigue, frequent infections, and easy bruising and bleeding. The common blood cancer types are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, each affecting different cells or pathways.
The blood cancer types depend on the type of blood cell involved or the bone marrow pathway affected. The most common types of blood cancer are:
1. Leukemia: It is a cancer that initiates in the bone marrow and is characterized by the uncontrolled production of white blood cells. These abnormal cells outnumber the healthy cells.
2. Lymphoma: It is another type of blood cancer that originates in the lymphocytes. Lymphocytes proliferate uncontrollably in lymph nodes and other lymphatic tissues.
3. Myeloma: It is a type of blood cancer that occurs in the plasma cells in the bone marrow. These plasma cells produce antibodies.
Like solid organ cancer, blood cancer does not have staging based on local disease or metastatic disease, as blood cells are present throughout the body. The stages of blood cancer are determined based on different parameters for different blood cancer types.
Leukemia: For leukemia, there is no staging system, and outcomes are dependent on risk stratification based on the mutation landscape of the disease.
Lymphoma: For lymphoma, there is the Ann Arbor staging system, depending on the extent of the disease.
Multiple Myeloma: For multiple myeloma, there is the R-ISS staging system based on various blood and genetic mutation parameters.
The extent of the disease is one of the crucial factors considered while devising personalized treatment plans. Early-stage cancers show relatively better treatment response as compared to advanced-stage cancers.
Blood cancers develop primarily due to genetic mutations in the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow. The mechanism often involves oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. The mutations may occur from:
1. Inherited genetic predisposition: Inherited conditions are also considered to be the causes of leukemia. Patients with certain inherited conditions, such as Fanconi anemia or Down syndrome, are at elevated risk for developing bone cancer.
2. Chemical exposure: Contact with chemicals, such as benzene or pesticides, is one of the causes of leukemia and significantly elevates the risk of blood cancer. The occupational exposure is associated with acute leukemia and other blood cancers.
3. Prior chemotherapy and radiation: Cancer therapy may cause DNA damage in healthy cells, leading to chromosomal aberrations and genomic instability.
Chemotherapy agents and ionizing radiation cause heritable mutations and are also among the causes of leukemia. These mutations sometimes have a transgenerational effect, leading to higher mutation rates in subsequent generations.
4. Other factors: Age, viral infections, and immunocompromised status are also causes of leukemia and other blood cancers.
Blood cancer treatment is influenced by the type, severity, genetic profile, and spread of the disease. Some of the blood cancer treatment options are:
1. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves the administration of drugs that induce DNA damage and kill the rapidly dividing cells.
2. Targeted therapy: It usually focuses on the specific molecular abnormalities, such as BCR-ABL fusion in certain leukemias.
3. Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy uses various drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies or immune checkpoint inhibitors, to improve the anti-cancer immune response.
4. Stem cell transplant (Bone Marrow Transplant): It involves replacing the diseased bone marrow with healthy donor cells. It is generally used in refractory disease.
5. CAR T-cell Therapy: CAR T-cell therapy is a type of cellular therapy where a patient's own immune cells (T-cells) are modified to attack and kill cancer cells.
The cure for blood cancer depends on the subtype, the patient's age, the severity of the disease, and the treatment response, and understanding these factors answers the most common question, “Can blood cancer be cured permanently?”
With the advancement in the treatment during the last few years, the cure rate of blood cancer has improved significantly.
Leukemia: Leukemia is the most common type of blood cancer, and one of the first questions that patients ask their doctor is, “Is leukemia curable?
Studies reported a high cure rate of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children (up to 70-80%); however, the cure rate is lower in adults (about 50-60%) because of the difference in the disease biology and the tolerability of intensive therapy.
Acute myeloid leukemia cure rates vary from 30% to 70% depending on the risk of the disease.
Bone marrow transplantation is a curative treatment for high-risk and refractory acute leukemia.
Chronic leukemias usually require long-term treatment and report improved long-term survival; however, they are not curable at present.
Lymphoma: Hodgkin's lymphoma and certain aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, DLBCL) are generally curable, particularly in the younger patients. The cure rate reaches over 70%-80%.
Sustained remission is common after chemotherapy. Patients remaining disease-free for several years have a survival rate almost comparable to that of the general population.
Myeloma: Historically, multiple myeloma has been considered incurable. However, the availability of advanced treatment options, such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant, has enabled patients with multiple myeloma to achieve significant and prolonged remissions.
Several factors affect the blood cancer survival rate and recovery rates in patients with blood cancer. These include the risk stratification, stage of disease, the patient's age, the type of blood cancer, and the treatment response.
For leukemia, the 5-year blood cancer survival rate varies by subtype and ranges from 30% to 70%.
The survival rate of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is good, 80-85% at 5 years, and that of high-grade B-cell lymphoma is 60-70%, while the 5-year survival rate of multiple myeloma ranges between 50% and 80%.
In general, younger patients and those diagnosed at an early stage.
Early detection is crucial, as those diagnosed at an early stage require less intensive treatment, resulting in higher remission rates and enhanced quality of life.
HCG Cancer Centre is one of the finest cancer care centers in India, offering advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities to patients with blood cancer.
This health article by HCG focused on answering one of the most asked questions, “Is blood cancer curable?”
The cure for blood cancer and recovery depend on various factors, such as the stage of the blood cancer, the type of blood cancer, and the patient's overall health. The survival rate also varies by blood cancer. While Hodgkin's lymphoma has one of the highest survival rates, multiple myeloma has a relatively low survival rate.
Dr. Aditi Kaskar
Consultant – Hemato Oncology & BMT Physician
MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DrNB (Clinical Hematology)
Dr. Aditi Shah Kaskar is an experienced hematologist, hemato-oncologist, and BMT physician practicing at HCG Cancer Centre, a leading cancer hospital in Borivali, Mumbai. Her expertise lies in the treatment and management of malignant and non-malignant blood disorders among adult and pediatric patients. She has specialized expertise in the administration of both autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation programs. Dr. Aditi is known for her compassionate approach to patient care, prioritizing the comfort and well-being of her patients.
Appointment Link: Book an Appointment with Dr. Aditi Kaskar.
