Diagnosis
The key to successful treatment is the ability to establish a proper diagnosis using a series of sophisticated tests. At The Blood and Cancer Clinic, these state-of-the-art procedures combine the expertise of hematology, pathology, molecular biology, immunology, and cytogenetics (finding that part of the chromosome that might be involved in causing the disease). The best care is provided by the successful and precise diagnosis of each disease, which requires different treatment approaches that are dependent on this process of molecular and chromosomal analysis. The sophistication of a program’s diagnostic abilities can greatly affect a patient’s prognosis.
Treatment:
Treatment of hematologic malignancies is based on determining the correct diagnosis and staging of the disease. Depending on the stage, the most common forms of treatment are chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for most hematologic malignancies, including extensive stage lymphomas, leukemias, and multiple myeloma. Marrow or stem cell transplantation is often indicated for treatment of hematologic malignancies. The treatment protocols of the Hematologic Malignancies Program are integrated with those of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program. The Blood and Cancer Clinic has full facilities for outpatient administration of chemotherapy. State-of-the-art treatment is available. Treatments are tailored to each patient to attempt to achieve maximum response with minimum patient inconvenience and discomfort.
Radiation Therapy Radiation therapy is given as curative therapy for limited-stage lymphomas. The use of radiation therapy also is important in consolidation treatment for certain stages of hematologic malignancies. Radiation services are available on-site and usually are administered on an outpatient basis.
Surgery Surgery is seldom a treatment for leukemia or lymphoma, but the skills of The Blood and Cancer Clinic surgeons are invaluable in obtaining biopsies and inserting venous access devices.
