World Blood Cancer Day: As India’s elderly population grows, doctors are warning of a silent but worrying rise in cases of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a pre-leukaemia blood disorder that can progress into full-blown acute leukaemia.
Ahead of World Blood Cancer Day, Bengaluru-based oncologist and hematologist Dr. Radheshyam Naik raised the alarm, noting that MDS is increasingly being seen among older Indians, with the average age of diagnosis around 70.
“We are witnessing a substantial rise in MDS cases in the country, largely because of the ageing population,” Dr. Naik said. He pointed out that rising rates of smoking and longer survival among cancer survivors — who are now living long enough to develop second malignancies — are also fueling this trend.
MDS occurs when the bone marrow produces abnormal blood cells that don’t mature properly. This leads to symptoms such as anaemia, frequent infections, fevers, easy bruising, and unexplained bleeding. Alarmingly, 20-30% of people with MDS progress to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a fast-growing cancer marked by an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells.
World Diabetes Day: Five Yoga Asanas to lower blood sugar and maintain insulin levels
Beyond MDS, Dr. Naik also flagged a rise in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) cases across all age groups in India. “The reason behind the increasing incidence of NHL is still unknown, but the numbers are definitely rising,” he said.
Despite the grim statistics, Dr. Naik pointed to new and promising treatments making headway in the fight against blood cancers. Immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy are showing remarkable results by harnessing the body’s immune system to attack cancer. Targeted therapies — like hormone treatments and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) — are designed to zero in on specific genes or proteins that fuel cancer growth. Advanced forms of radiation therapy, such as proton therapy and hyperthermia, and bone marrow transplants are also delivering life-saving outcomes.
India faces a significant public health challenge when it comes to blood cancers, ranking third globally in reported cases. An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 deaths occur annually due to blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
Doctors emphasize the importance of early detection, noting that a simple complete blood count (CBC) test can pick up warning signs and dramatically improve treatment outcomes — provided patients receive timely care.
