Is Dizziness a Sign of Blood Cancer?

Dizziness, a sensation of losing your balance, could be a potential sign of blood cancer. Blood cancer, such as leukemia, can interfere with the normal production of blood cells, leading to symptoms like dizziness. However, it's vital to understand that dizziness is a common symptom of many less severe conditions and is not solely indicative of cancer.

Dizziness can be associated with many forms of cancer, including blood cancers like chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It often results from a decreased oxygen supply to the brain, which can occur when cancer impacts the body's ability to produce healthy blood cells. However, dizziness alone is rarely a sign of cancer.

"Dizziness is not universally common across all types of blood cancers," said Wael Harb, MD, board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley and Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California. "It is more frequently associated with certain types, such as leukemia and anemia related to myelodysplastic syndromes or myelofibrosis," he explained.

Daniel Landau, MD, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at Orlando Health Cancer Institute and subject matter expert for The Mesothelioma Center, further emphasized the link between anemia, a condition caused by low red blood cell counts, and dizziness. "One of the most common reasons for dizziness with blood cancer is from anemia," he explained.

The infiltration of cancer cells into the central nervous system of the inner ear, treatment side effects, blood pressure changes, and dehydration can also cause dizziness with cancer, according to Dr. Harb. Certain procedures, like leukapheresis (a medical procedure used to draw out white blood cells), can also cause dizziness.

Vertigo, a subtype of dizziness characterized by the sensation of spinning, can sometimes be caused by cancer. This occurs when the cancer or its treatments affect the inner ear or brain, which are vital for maintaining balance. Vertigo is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as tinnitus (a ringing in the ears), nausea, or temporary hearing loss.

Dizziness and vertigo are more often associated with benign conditions. Still, it’s crucial to speak with your healthcare provider if you experience prolonged or severe dizziness, vertigo, and other symptoms that suggest cancer.

While both conditions can affect your balance, they present distinct symptoms. Dizziness generally refers to feeling lightheaded or unsteady, whereas vertigo is a feeling of spinning as if the room is moving around you. Additionally, vertigo is more often accompanied by nausea or vomiting.

People with vertigo often avoid certain activities, such as going up and down stairs or sitting in a rocking chair, which can immediately exacerbate the spinning sensation. You may feel like you're falling, swaying, or tilting, and it can be challenging to concentrate on tasks.

Different types of leukemia can cause varying degrees of dizziness. Acute forms of leukemia tend to produce more severe symptoms, including dizziness, as they progress rapidly. Chronic forms progress more slowly and may not cause dizziness until the disease is quite advanced.

Dizziness in advanced cancer can also be caused by low blood pressure, anemia, medications used for treatment, and the spread of cancer cells to the brain. Additionally, fatigue and weakness may also be present in these cases.

Vertigo treatment involves addressing its underlying cause. According to Dr. Landau, treating the cancer may alleviate the vertigo when cancer is the cause. Other treatments for vertigo may include:

• Medications: Certain drugs help relieve symptoms of vertigo, such as meclizine or diazepam. These can reduce feelings of nausea and control the spinning sensation.

• Physical therapy: Vestibular rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy aimed at strengthening the body's vestibular system, which controls balance and eye movements. This therapy can be beneficial if you have recurrent bouts of vertigo.

• Surgery: If vertigo results from a structural issue in the inner ear or a brain tumor, surgery may be necessary to correct the problem.

• Diet and lifestyle changes: Certain dietary changes, like lowering salt intake, can help reduce symptoms of Meniere's disease – a condition linked to vertigo. A balanced diet and regular exercise can also help manage vertigo symptoms.

• Canalith repositioning procedures: These are a series of specific head and body movements for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV causes dizziness when you move your head due to small calcium crystal particles, or canaliths, that have moved into the semicircular canals of the inner ear. The movements direct these particles back to their proper place in the inner ear, thus relieving the symptoms of vertigo.

• Psychological therapy: For those with stress and anxiety-induced vertigo, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be beneficial in managing the condition. CBT helps individuals change thought patterns and behaviors that trigger vertigo.

Addressing the root cause of your vertigo - the leukemia - is often the best way to manage the condition. The following treatments may help alleviate symptoms:

• Chemotherapy: This involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, including those causing vertigo. Chemotherapy might cause temporary intensification of vertigo symptoms due to side effects, but overall, it helps manage the condition by treating the underlying cancer.

• Radiation therapy: This treatment uses high-energy particles or waves, such as X-rays, to destroy cancer cells. Like chemotherapy, radiation therapy can temporarily exacerbate vertigo symptoms but is ultimately beneficial in treating the root cause.

• Stem cell transplantation: This procedure involves replacing unhealthy blood-forming cells with healthy ones, which can help restore normal function in your blood and immune system, thereby alleviating symptoms of vertigo caused by leukemia.

• Targeted therapy: Targeted drugs identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells.

• Immunotherapy: This type of cancer treatment can boost the body's natural defenses to fight the cancer cells causing vertigo.

• Supportive care: Treatments and medications are available to manage symptoms and side effects rather than treating the cancer itself.

• Complementary and alternative medicine: Techniques such as yoga, acupuncture, and meditation can help manage the symptoms of vertigo and improve overall well-being.

• Physical therapy: As with non-cancer-related vertigo, vestibular rehabilitation can be beneficial in managing the symptoms of vertigo. It works by strengthening the body's balance system.

If you're experiencing dizziness as a complication of leukemia, it's important to discuss this with your healthcare team. You might ask about possible causes, treatment options, and whether the dizziness might be a side effect of any medications you take.

Here are some starter questions to ask your healthcare team if you're experiencing dizziness related to leukemia:

• What might be causing my dizziness?

• Is the dizziness a side effect of any medications I am taking?

• Are there any tests that could help determine the cause of my dizziness?

• What treatments are available to alleviate my dizziness?

• Could lifestyle changes or physical therapy help manage my dizziness?

• Are there any complementary or alternative therapies that might help?

• Could my dizziness be a symptom of disease progression or a new condition?

• Are there any warning signs I should watch for that would require immediate medical attention?

• How can I safely navigate my day-to-day activities with this dizziness?

• Do I need to limit my physical activities?

• How should I best communicate any changes in my dizziness to you or the healthcare team?

• How can I manage anxiety or stress related to my dizziness?

Other types of cancer, such as brain tumors, can cause dizziness. Other symptoms of brain tumors can include headache, nausea and vomiting, difficulty with balance or coordination, sensory changes, memory problems, and confusion.

Lung cancer can also cause dizziness due to decreased oxygen levels in the body. Additionally, dizziness can be caused by drugs used to treat lung cancer. Other common symptoms of lung cancer include persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, and unintentional weight loss.

Kidney cancer can be associated with dizziness due to anemia and certain treatment side effects. Other symptoms of kidney cancer include persistent pain in the side or lower back area, abnormal mass in the lower back area, bloody urine, fatigue, and frequent urination.

Some types of pancreatic cancer can also cause dizziness due to low blood sugar levels. Other common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include abdominal pain, jaundice, weight loss, dark urine color, light-colored stools, nausea, and vomiting.

Dizziness isn't always a sign of cancer. Many people experience occasional dizziness due to dehydration, low blood sugar, motion sickness, migraines, or other non-cancerous conditions. However, if you're experiencing dizziness frequently or for an extended period, consult your healthcare provider for further evaluation.

Dizziness can be a sign of blood cancer, such as leukemia, but other non-cancerous conditions are more likely to be the cause. It’s important to discuss any symptoms you are experiencing with your healthcare provider so they can properly evaluate and diagnose the cause. Many treatments are available to help alleviate dizziness and vertigo related to blood cancer, depending on the cause. Additionally, lifestyle changes and supplements may help manage symptom relief.

Asking questions about potential causes, treatments, and side effects can help you feel better informed and empowered to manage your condition. Ultimately, understanding the cause of your dizziness can help you and your healthcare team create an effective treatment plan tailored to your needs.