Blood Cancer

• Leukemia, including acute leukemias, chronic leukemias, and myelodysplasia
• Lymphomas, including Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Plasma cell disorders, including multiple myeloma and amyloidosis

We provide full-service care for many kinds of blood cancers. Contact us to find out more. All hematology providers and locations in the System can be found in the Get Care section of this page.

Blood cancers come from bone marrow or the immune system. Bone marrow is a spongy material that lives inside the bones. It is responsible for making all types of blood cells including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Each blood cell has a different role in the body. White blood cells help fight off infection. Red blood cells help deliver oxygen to tissues. Platelets help the body to clot. White blood cells make up the immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses. They live in the bone marrow, the blood, and in lymph nodes.

Leukemia is a cancer that begins in the bone marrow and cancer cells circulate in the bloodstream. Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the lymph nodes. A cancer that comes from a specific type of white blood cell called a plasma cell is called plasma cell disorder. These cancers can affect the red blood cells, the bones, and the kidney function.

Blood cancers are diagnosed by either biopsying the bone marrow or by removing a lymph node. A bone marrow biopsy can be done in a cancer specialist’s office or in the radiology center. A lymph node biopsy is done by a surgeon in the operating room.

A medical hematologist oncologist leads each patient's treatment plan. Radiation oncology and surgical oncology may participate in supportive roles. Treatments can include chemotherapy, oral medication, biotherapy, or immunotherapy. A treatment plan is tailored to the type of blood cancer diagnosed.

There are any new agents and treatments being used to treat blood cancers. We partner with New York Oncology Hematology (NYOH) on clinical trials and research.