Six little-known signs of blood cancer revealed as disease-stricken Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill gives update on his illness
Cancer-stricken Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill has insisted he is not afraid of dying.
The 76-year-old announced earlier this year that he has angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), a rare blood cancer that attacks the lymphatic system, the body’s disease-fighting network.
In an interview with Australian storyNeill revealed how he got started taking a new experimental drug to fight the disease after chemotherapy failed.
His doctors have told him that one day the drug will no longer work, which he says he is “prepared for.”
Symptoms of AITL, a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, can include fever, night sweats, rash and autoimmune diseases.
Here, MailOnline reveals six warning signs of blood cancer in general.
Symptoms of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, can include high fever, night sweats, rash, and autoimmune disorders.
Sam Neill has revealed the emotional letter he wrote to his children as he battles stage three blood cancer
Fatigue
If you feel tired even after getting enough sleep and rest, it could be a sign of anemia.
Anemia is caused by low numbers of red blood cells (which carry oxygen throughout the body) and can make you feel tired, breathless and look pale.
While this can be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, such as not getting enough iron in your diet, Blood Cancer UK warns that it is also a possible warning sign of blood cancer.
To check if you have anemia, experts recommend pulling down your lower eyelid. If you have anemia, it will look light pink instead of dark pink or red.
Other symptoms of anemia include feeling faint and headaches, the charity said.
Unexplained rash
Bruising is normally a sign of bleeding under the skin and is caused by an injury. But if they appear for no reason, it could be a sign of something sinister.
An unexplained bruise could mean you have low platelets, causing the blood to clot, says Blood Cancer UK.
‘They are darker or a different color to the skin around them and may feel sensitive when you touch them,’ the charity warns.
These unexplained bruises can also appear as a rash. It can manifest as small spots in the skin or as larger discolored patches, says Blood Cancer UK.
On black and brown skin, these spots and spots may look purple or darker than the surrounding skin. On lighter skin it is usually red or purple.
Neill also revealed he has been in remission for 12 months thanks to a cancer drug, but admits he is ‘prepared’ for it to eventually stop working
Unexplained fever
Blood cancer can cause persistent, recurring, and serious infections.
That’s because people with the disease have lower white blood cell counts, which usually help fight infections.
A high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above, even if there is no obvious sign of infection, can also be a sign of the disease, warns Blood Cancer UK.
In some cases, people with a type of blood cancer called lymphoma experience soaking night sweats.
TThe cause of these night sweats is unclear, the charity says.
Bumps and swellings
If you have blood cancer, abnormal white blood cells can build up in your lymph nodes, causing swelling and lumps.
These usually appear in your neck, armpit or groin, according to Blood Cancer UK.
Most are painless, but sometimes they can hurt, the charity says.
‘If there are lumps or swellings further down your body and they are pressing on organs such as your lungs, this can cause pain, discomfort or shortness of breath,’ says Blood Cancer UK.
The Jurassic Park star, 76, told Australian Story he planned to write the letter to his son Tim, daughter Elena and grandchildren after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin blood cancer.
Stomach problems
Pain in your stomach can be another sign of blood cancer.
It is caused by abnormal blood cells building up in the spleen, says Blood Cancer UK.
This can cause swelling and a feeling of fullness after eating just a small amount.
Some people feel discomfort and pain in the abdominal area, as well as bloating.
You may also experience pain under your ribs on the left side, the charity says.
Unexplained weight loss
Losing weight without trying can be a sign of blood cancer.
According to Cancer Research UK, some forms of the disease use energy that the body would otherwise use or store.
It adds: ‘In rare cases, an enlarged spleen can also increase weight loss by compressing your stomach and making you feel full more quickly than normal. You may then eat less than normal.’
However, some people lose weight even when they eat normally.
This is called cachexia, where your body doesn’t absorb all the fat, protein and carbohydrates from food and burns calories faster than normal.