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Most blood cancers start in the bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells form. These cancers disrupt the normal process of blood cell development and prevent your blood from doing its job, like fighting infections and preventing serious bleeding.
Different blood cancers affect blood cells differently, but they all result from changes (mutations) in the DNA inside your blood cells. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center experts use many types of tests to diagnose blood cancers.
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Blood cancers (also called hematologic malignancies) develop from abnormal blood cells that grow and multiply at an abnormally fast rate. This disrupts the normal functioning of healthy cells and interferes with their ability to fight infection, transport oxygen throughout the body, regulate blood pressure and make new blood cells.
There are many different types of blood cancer, and they all begin in different parts of the blood system. Leukaemia begins in blood-forming tissue, lymphoma starts in the lymphatic system and myeloma develops from the plasma cells that make up part of our immune system.
The diagnosis of blood cancer is a complex process, and one that involves both staging and treatment planning. Staging is the process of determining the severity and extent of a tumour, and it’s important to get this information as early on as possible so that doctors can create an individualised treatment plan for you.
When you see your doctor, they will carry out a physical examination and ask about your symptoms. They may feel or look at your swollen lymph nodes, the liver and spleen, and check for bruising or bleeding. They’ll also take a sample of your blood for tests to assess your general health, including a full blood count which checks your red and white blood cells, platelets and haemoglobin levels.
They may recommend scanning, a test that uses X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging to detect tumours or any areas of abnormality in the bone marrow or lymphatic system. This can be particularly helpful for diagnosing certain types of leukaemia, or for spotting enlarged lymph nodes in people with lymphoma.
Other tests can help to identify the type of blood cancer you have. These include a blood test known as immunophenotyping, which looks at the proteins on the surface of your cells, and genetic tests. This can be done on a sample taken from a blood test, a bone marrow aspiration or a biopsy.
Research has found that symptom interpretation plays an important role in helping people to seek help for blood cancers. For example, a narrative synthesis identified four ways that patients interpret their symptoms: as compatible with a normal state of health, as event-linked problems, as mild or chronic illness, and as non-specific unwell states.
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Blood cancers are caused by changes (mutations) in the genetic material of your blood cells. Normally, DNA tells your blood cells when to grow, divide and die. But in blood cancers, the abnormal cells grow and multiply faster than normal cells. They also don’t die when they should, and they crowd out the normal cells in your bone marrow, bloodstream or lymphatic system. They can then cause symptoms such as fever, tiredness and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin.
Doctors can diagnose some blood cancers by taking a sample of the affected lymph nodes, or other areas of the body, and testing them in a lab. This is called a biopsy. They can also use imaging tests to spot the area where the cancer is growing, such as a CT or PET scan.
Other tests can help to find the type and stage of a blood cancer, and how much it has spread. They can include a blood cell count, a smear test or an imaging test like a CT scan. Doctors will often also try to identify the type of blood cancer you have by studying your DNA.
Many types of blood cancer are treated with chemotherapy drugs, which kill cancer cells and make it hard for them to grow. Doctors use different kinds of chemotherapy to treat leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, as well as other blood cancers. Radiation therapy, which uses high-energy X-rays or other radiation to destroy cancer cells and ease pain and discomfort, is used in some cases as well.
If your blood cancer treatment is causing too few healthy blood cells to grow, you may need to receive regular transfusions of red blood cells. This can reduce your chances of infection, but it can also increase your fatigue and the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Doctors can treat some types of blood cancer by replacing the cancerous stem cells in your bone marrow with healthy ones. Stem cells are blood cells at an early stage of development. They usually develop in the bone marrow, but blood cancers can change the way stem cells work and cause them to become cancerous.
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Blood cancers start in the blood cells that form in bone marrow. They can be caused by changes (mutations) in the DNA within blood cells that cause them to work differently than they should. Most of the time, these mutations are not caused by anything we can control or avoid. They happen over the course of your lifetime and most often affect older people. These changes can lead to different types of blood cancer — leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma.
Some blood cancers can be prevented by following a healthy diet, staying at a healthy weight and avoiding tobacco and excessive exposure to chemicals like pesticides and industrial solvents. If you are concerned about your risk, talk to your doctor.
Leukaemia is the most common type of blood cancer. It starts in the bone marrow, which is the spongy tissue in the middle of some bones. It can also begin in other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, blood and spleen. Leukaemias are mainly due to changes in the DNA of blood cells, which causes them to grow and multiply when they should not. They may also stop working properly, and the faulty cells can crowd out healthy blood cells that help your body fight infection and clot when you are bleeding.
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, which produces and transports white blood cells around your body and removes waste from your blood. It can develop in the lymph nodes, blood, bone marrow and other organs. The most common types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow, which is where they usually develop. These cells normally make antibodies that fight infection. However, myeloma cells grow and spread abnormally. They can damage bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells.
If you’re worried about your blood cancer risk, ask your healthcare provider about clinical trials that can help you explore options for preventing, diagnosing and treating it. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center has FDA-approved therapies, such as YESCARTA® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) and KYMRIAH® (tisagenlecleucel), that can help you lower your risk of the disease.
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September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and the 1.5 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma can be proud that they are not alone. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is here to support patients and their families, funding lifesaving research to help beat these diseases and improve the quality of care for those affected by them.
Blood cancers occur when abnormal blood cells grow faster than normal and build up in the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. These cells then spread to the bloodstream and from there to other organs such as the spleen, liver and lungs. If the disease goes untreated, it can lead to serious problems such as life-threatening infections or bleeding.
Most types of blood cancer are classified into different stages based on how fast the abnormal blood cells grow and whether they spread to other parts of the body. The stage of your blood cancer determines your treatment plan and how likely you are to survive.
A typical diagnosis for a blood cancer starts with a visit to your primary care physician, who will examine you and ask questions about your symptoms. Depending on your risk, your doctor may recommend a series of tests. These can include blood work to check your red and white blood cell counts, as well as a bone marrow biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure that involves inserting a needle into your bone marrow or lymph node to take a sample for testing under a microscope.
If your blood cancer is in the early stages, you may have the option to participate in a clinical trial. These trials test new drugs and treatments to see how effective they are against blood cancer. You will be closely monitored while taking part in a clinical trial, and you may be able to receive treatment that is not available anywhere else.
As your treatment progresses, you may need to have additional support services. UPMC’s Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers provides survivorship services to help you manage the physical and emotional effects of your treatment, such as palliative care, social support, and blood transfusion therapy. Our hematology nurses, oncologists, and social workers are here to guide you through every step of your journey.
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Blood cancers affect blood cells and bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside the bones where blood cells are made). These cancers make abnormal white blood cells that can’t fight infection. They also make abnormal red blood cells and platelets that can’t help the body clot.
The abnormal cells don’t die when they should and keep multiplying. This leads to leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma.
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A person with blood cancer may experience pain from the growth of tumors in lymph nodes, spleen or bone marrow.
Most of the different types of blood cancer grow in the bone marrow, the soft, spongy tissue inside most bones where blood cells are formed. Pain is a common symptom of leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
The first step to diagnosing blood cancer is usually a physical exam and reviewing your health history. Then your doctor will do tests to check the type and stage of blood cancer, as well as other areas that may be affected.
For example, if you have lymphoma, your doctor will probably do a lymph node biopsy to obtain a sample of lymph nodes for examination. This procedure involves a doctor using a special hollow needle to collect a fluid-like tissue from the top of your hip bone. This is done after numbing the area. Other test can include a complete blood count and a biopsy to determine the type of leukemia you have. In addition, you might need a genetic test called polymerase chain reaction that spots markers for certain kinds of cancers.
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Blood cancers affect your blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system. They develop when DNA in blood cells changes and mutates, sending out abnormal blood cells to grow too quickly. These cancerous cells crowd out normal blood cells and interrupt important functions, such as fighting infection or controlling bleeding.
Most blood cancers start in your bone marrow, the soft sponge-like material in the center of your bones. This marrow makes stem cells that mature into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Normal blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, fight infection and control bleeding. Blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, disrupt these functions.
Doctors stage solid tumors using their findings on imaging scans and examining your blood cell counts. Blood cancers are different, and their stages depend on how the cancer spreads and where it started. For example, leukemia and lymphoma develop in your bone marrow while myeloma grows in your plasma cells, impacting both your blood and bones.
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Fatigue is often the first symptom of blood cancer. You may feel tired even when you are resting or sleeping. You might also feel breathless or have a build-up of fluid in the tummy (ascites).
Leukaemia can cause fatigue, but it usually happens alongside other symptoms such as pain in the bones and swollen glands. If you’re feeling a lot of fatigue, ask your doctor about it.
The fatigue you feel with leukemia is caused by a low number of healthy red blood cells. The cancer also causes anemia and may make you look pale and feel breathless. You might also have difficulty concentrating and be more prone to infections.
Fatigue can also be caused by a lack of sleep or a change in diet or medications you take. It can also be a side effect of the chemotherapy drugs used to treat some types of cancer. Your doctor can help you find ways to manage your fatigue. For example, you might want to try keeping a diary of when your fatigue occurs, how long it lasts and how it interferes with daily activities.
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A cancerous tumor can affect your body’s ability to fight infection. This can weaken your immune system, which may result in weight loss and swollen lymph nodes. Cancer treatments can also cause these symptoms, so it’s important to talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any of them.
If you’re diagnosed with blood cancer, your doctor will order tests to find out the type and stage of the disease. Your doctor may also need to check your spleen, liver and lungs for problems.
Blood cancer is a group of diseases that affect your bone marrow, blood and lymphatic system. You might have pain in the bones, swollen lymph nodes, and difficulty breathing. You might also experience fatigue and a general feeling of unwellness. People who have had previous chemotherapy, radiation or exposure to toxic chemicals are more likely to develop blood cancer.
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Nausea is common with all types of blood cancer. It may be a symptom of the disease itself or of chemotherapy. Prolonged or recurring nausea can cause serious complications, such as broken blood vessels in the face and eyes, and fatigue.
Most blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and some forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, start in the bone marrow, the soft, sponge-like tissue inside most bones. The bone marrow makes stem cells that develop into the different types of blood cells that support our health. These include red blood cells to carry oxygen, platelets to help blood clot and white blood cells to fight infection.
Blood cancers can disrupt this process and cause abnormal blood cells to overtake normal ones. This leads to illness symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, pain and nausea. The good news is, more people are living longer with their cancers, thanks to new and improved treatments. If you’re having cancer symptoms, let your doctor know right away. They can run tests to determine what type of blood cancer you have and how far it has spread.
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Cancer treatment is a lengthy process with many ups and downs. It’s important to have support from friends and family throughout the journey. Having the understanding and concern of a counselor, medical social worker, clergy member or cancer support group can also be helpful.
Blood cancer treatments can include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and stem cell transplantation. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers offer expert care at every step.
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Cancer is a disease that affects your blood cells and bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside your bones where blood is made. It can destroy your blood cells, leaving you with a severe type of anemia that reduces your red and white blood cell count. It may also spread to other parts of your body, including the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Blood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
Your blood has many types of cells that carry out specific jobs, such as carrying oxygen to tissues and organs, helping your body clot when you’re injured and fighting infections. Blood cancers change how your blood cells develop and work, either by causing them to grow too quickly or not developing properly. They can also clog up your bone marrow and prevent other types of blood cells from working as they should.
Blood cancer symptoms vary and are similar to those of other illnesses, such as the flu or an infection. If you have these symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider, who can run a series of tests to diagnose your condition. These may include a physical exam, which includes feeling or looking for swollen lymph nodes and an enlarged liver or spleen.
Other diagnostic procedures may include a bone marrow aspiration, where a needle is inserted into the hipbone to collect a sample of liquid bone marrow. This test allows doctors to look for signs of blood cancer in the liquid marrow and determine how advanced the cancer is. A lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, is another test that can be done to measure the level of certain proteins in your cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Your healthcare provider will discuss your treatment options with you, which depend on the type of blood cancer you have and its stage. They will explain how each treatment works and the benefits and risks of each option. They will also consider your lifestyle, such as whether you have any other health conditions or concerns about side effects.
Oren Zarif
Most blood cancers start in the bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. Cancers in the bone marrow can disrupt the production of healthy blood cells that carry oxygen and fight infection. These abnormal cells can also spread throughout the body. Blood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
To determine the stage of a patient’s blood cancer, doctors use a combination of diagnostic tests and procedures. They may perform a physical examination, feeling or looking for swollen lymph nodes and other abnormalities. They may also check for other signs of cancer, such as easy bruising or bleeding and a rash. They may also do an imaging test, such as a CT scan or MRI.
Once a doctor knows the stage of a patient’s blood disease, they can create an appropriate treatment plan. Depending on the type of blood cancer and its stage, the patient may need surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other treatments.
A growing number of patients with blood cancer are receiving personalized therapies, known as CAR-T therapy. These innovative treatments redirect the immune system to attack the cancerous cells. CAR-T therapy is currently used to treat a number of different blood cancers, including Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma. However, this new approach to cancer treatment is not without its challenges. Drugmakers have struggled to keep up with the demand for CAR-T therapy, and some patients are waiting longer than they should to receive this promising treatment.
Blood cancer is a complex disease that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is important to have a timely diagnosis because many blood cancers are curable if they are caught in the early stages. Patients who undergo treatment for blood cancers can expect to live longer than those who do not have the disease. This is due to advances in medical science and availability of effective chemotherapy regimens and other treatments. Some people are at greater risk for blood cancer than others because of their genetics, lifestyle or exposure to certain chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde.
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Blood cancers (also called hematologic malignancies) develop in the bone marrow, the soft sponge-like material inside the center of the bones. It makes stem cells, which eventually mature into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These cells carry oxygen throughout the body, fight infection and control bleeding. Blood cancers affect how well these cells work, interfering with normal cell development and growth and preventing the body from producing enough healthy cells.
The treatment process begins with diagnostic testing to identify the type and stage of blood cancer. This may include blood tests, a bone marrow biopsy, imaging scans and genetic testing. Blood cancers are treated in stages, with the goal of achieving long-term remission or cure.
Most blood cancer treatments are designed to destroy cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading to other parts of the body. They may be delivered orally as tablets or by injection. They may also be combined with other forms of treatment.
Chemotherapy is a form of treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. It is usually given in cycles, with some chemotherapy and then a period of rest for the body to recover. The length of each cycle depends on the type of chemotherapy and your overall health.
Stem cell transplant is a procedure in which doctors replace your blood cancer cells with healthy bone marrow stem cells. This is most common in leukemias and some lymphomas. They can collect your own stem cells or find a donor for you.
Other types of treatment include immunotherapy, which uses the body’s own immune system to kill cancerous cells. It’s an increasingly important option in multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
More people are living longer with blood cancers, as researchers discover new treatments and better ways to deliver them. For example, a form of precision immunotherapy known as CAR-T cell therapy turns a patient’s own immune system into killers of cancer cells. This has extended the lives of many patients with multiple myeloma. Other new therapies are improving survival rates for leukemia and other blood cancers as well.
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The blood is a vital fluid that transports oxygen to cells and tissues, carries hormones and nutrients, removes waste products, helps regulate body temperature, balances pH and fights infection. Cancers of the blood, called hematologic cancers, affect the cells that make up the blood and bone marrow. They also affect other organs, such as the lymph nodes and spleen.
The treatment for blood cancer depends on the type of cancer and its stage. Most forms of blood cancer are treated with chemotherapy, or a combination of drugs that kill tumor cells and prevent them from growing. Chemotherapy is given by mouth, in a shot or intravenously (IV). The amount of chemotherapy you get and how long you receive it depend on your unique situation.
Some types of chemotherapy damage the spongy material inside most bones that makes blood, called bone marrow. This reduces your number of healthy white blood cells, which fight germs. Your doctor monitors your blood cell counts carefully during treatment. He or she may use a blood test called a complete blood count with differential to measure the levels of your red and white blood cells and detect low cell counts, which can be a sign of serious problems.
Certain chemotherapy drugs can cause heart and kidney damage. Cisplatin, doxorubicin, gemcitabine and streptozocin are some of the drugs that have been linked to this side effect. Your doctor will give you medicine to prevent or reduce these side effects.
Many people with blood cancer experience fatigue, which is a feeling of weakness and tiredness that comes from the lack of healthy blood cells to carry oxygen to your body’s tissues. Chemotherapy can also cause nausea, or a feeling of being sick to your stomach. Some drugs can also affect your appetite, and some people may have difficulty putting on weight.
Because of the risk of low blood cell counts, your doctor will probably monitor you closely during chemotherapy. You may have more regular tests to check your blood cell levels, including a full blood count with a differential and FISH, which looks for specific genetic changes in your blood cancer cells.
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Blood cancers affect how the body makes and uses blood cells. They often start in bone marrow, the soft, sponge-like material inside most bones. Bone marrow produces stem cells that mature into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, which help fight infection, carry oxygen throughout the body and control bleeding.
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The body produces millions of blood cells each day, most of which develop in the bone marrow (the spongy interior of bones). In leukemia, immature blood cells called blasts grow and develop into mature but abnormal cells that can’t carry out their normal functions. These abnormal cells outnumber healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in the blood and can cause problems throughout the body.
There are many different types of leukemia. They are usually classified based on the type of blood cell affected and how fast the cancer cells multiply. Acute leukemias progress rapidly and are usually life-threatening. Chronic leukemias typically progress more slowly, but can still be fatal if not treated. There are also related diseases that involve less aggressive blood cells, such as myelogenous leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes and hairy cell leukemia.
If you’re diagnosed with leukemia, doctors will use a variety of tests to determine the type and how far the cancer has spread in the body. A doctor may order a complete blood count, which checks the size and number of different blood cells, as well as other tests to look for specific abnormalities. Other tests may include a bone marrow biopsy, which involves inserting a hollow needle into the hipbone under general anesthesia to collect a sample of bone marrow. The sample can be tested to find out the type of leukemia and whether it has spread to other organs.
Treatment for leukemia varies depending on the type and severity of the condition, your age, overall health and other factors. The goal is to cure the leukemia with chemotherapy and other medications and to minimize side effects. Alternative therapies and clinical trials can also be helpful in some cases.
There are no known ways to prevent leukemia, but avoiding smoking and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce your risk. If you have a family history of the disease, genetic testing is often recommended. In addition, it’s important to get regular physicals and routine blood draws, which can detect any abnormalities that might indicate leukemia or other problems.
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Lymphoma is cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which help protect your body from infection. The cancer cells grow out of control and form tumours (masses) that can spread to other parts of the body. There are more than 70 different types of lymphoma, but they’re broadly grouped into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and they’re also divided into slow-growing and fast-growing kinds. The type of lymphoma you have affects how you’re treated, and it’s important to know the specific type of lymphoma you have.
Your lymphatic system is a network of tissues, vessels and organs that help your immune system fight infection and disease. It contains a group of lymph nodes and a collection of thin tubes called lymph vessels that collect lymph from different parts of the body and return it to the bloodstream. Lymph is a clear fluid that contains white blood cells and other cells that fight infection. Lymphoma develops in the lymph vessels and lymph nodes, but it can spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, bone marrow and lungs.
The causes of lymphoma aren’t always known. But one or more DNA changes in the cells that make up your lymphatic system can increase the chances of these cells becoming cancerous. These changes can happen by chance, or they can be caused by certain infections or other things that damage your immune system.
Like leukemia, lymphoma can cause fever, night sweats and swollen glands in the neck or armpits. But the exact symptoms depend on where the lymphoma is in the body, and how it’s spreading.
Treatment depends on the type of lymphoma you have and how far it’s gone (its stage). You may need surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. You might have a bone marrow/stem cell transplant if other treatments aren’t working or the lymphoma comes back. Or you might have a procedure called splenectomy, which is when we remove your spleen if it’s enlarged.
If your lymphoma is slow-growing, you might not need treatment straight away – we might ask you to go on watch and wait. But we’ll monitor you closely and start treatment as soon as we think it’s needed.
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Plasma cells are white blood cells that make antibodies – proteins that attack viruses and bacteria. They are found in the spongy interior of bones (bone marrow). Plasma cell cancer starts when the plasma cells become abnormal and grow more quickly than normal. The cancer can be spread to other parts of the body. This is called multiple myeloma. Sometimes the cancer can cause the peripheral nerves or organs to fail, a condition called amyloidosis. This is when the cancerous plasma cells start to stick together and form clumps that affect nerves, the kidneys or the heart.
The most common symptoms of myeloma are repeated infections, swollen glands (bumps), bone damage, high levels of calcium in the blood and kidney damage. The weakened bone tissue may break or show dark areas in x-rays. High calcium in the blood can make you feel very thirsty, pass urine more often and lead to kidney damage. Some people also have a paraprotein in their urine, which is an antibody protein that cannot be broken down by the body and is therefore passed out of the body in urine. This is known as Bence Jones protein and is usually found in large amounts in the urine of people with myeloma.
Another sign of myeloma is a low level of platelets in the blood. Platelets are needed for blood clotting. Symptoms of low platelets include nosebleeds, heavy periods and a fine rash of red spots on the skin. Other signs of myeloma can be a very fast heart rate, a lack of energy and a feeling of being cold.
Treatment for myeloma is aimed at controlling the cancer, managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Treatments can help control the disease but do not cure it. If you have myeloma, it is important to get follow-up care and support for yourself and your family.
The causes of myeloma are not fully understood but changes in DNA inside the plasma cells appear to play a role. These changes may make the cells grow more quickly and cause them to produce more of the abnormal plasma cells.
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Blood cancers, also called hematologic cancers, happen when something goes wrong with the way your blood cells develop or function. They grow and divide when they shouldn’t, crowding out healthy cells. They often start in the bone marrow where your blood cells are formed. They can affect your blood vessels and lymphatic system, too. Blood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other rare blood conditions like histiocytosis and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
These conditions all have different causes, but most of them are related to things you can’t control. Faults in the DNA within your blood cells cause them to develop abnormally. They can also happen if you have certain genetic faults that run in your family.
Most people diagnosed with blood cancer have many symptoms, depending on the type of disease and where it started in their body. They also have a wide range of treatment options. Our teams, which are part of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers, provide expert care at each step of the diagnosis and treatment process.
The first steps in diagnosing blood cancer include a physical examination, reviewing your health history and ordering blood tests. These can include a full blood count, a blood chemistry and a blood smear that checks for abnormalities. We use these tests to find out if you have a condition like leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma, or if a disorder like MPNs or histiocytosis may be causing you problems.
These tests can also reveal other symptoms. Leukemia and lymphoma, for example, can cause enlarged lymph nodes and other health problems. Myeloma can lead to bones breaking apart and other health issues. Histiocytosis is a group of rare blood disorders that can affect soft tissues and bones. It comes in two main forms — Langerhans cell histiocytosis and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
You may also have a kidney biopsy to measure the amount of protein in your urine and other tests if you’re suspected of having one of these diseases. Other diagnostic tests can include an MRI, CT scan or PET scan, which are useful in examining your bone marrow and lymph nodes. If a blood cancer is discovered, we offer treatment that includes chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. We can also help you participate in clinical trials that aim to improve your chances of a cure.