Hematology care

Hematology is the study of blood in health and disease. It includes problems with the red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and the proteins involved in bleeding and clotting (hemostasis and thrombosis). A hematologist is a medical doctor who applies this specialized knowledge to treat patients with blood conditions.

People may be affected by many different types of blood conditions and blood cancers. Common blood disorders include anemia, bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, blood clots and blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

In most blood cancers, the normal blood cell development process is interrupted by uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell. These abnormal blood cells, or cancerous cells, prevent blood from performing many of its functions, like fighting off infections or preventing serious bleeding.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bones, where blood cells are produced. In healthy bone marrow, blood cells form and mature, then move into the bloodstream.

Types of leukemia are grouped by the type of cell affected and by the rate of cell growth. Leukemia can be either acute or chronic.

Acute leukemia involves an overgrowth of very immature blood cells. This condition is life threatening because there are not enough mature blood cells to prevent anemia, infection and bleeding.

Chronic leukemia involves an overgrowth of mature blood cells. Usually, people with chronic leukemia have enough mature blood cells to prevent serious bleeding and infection.

Leukemia Symptoms

• unexplained fever
• persistent fatigue or feeling of weakness
• unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite
• easy bruising or bleeding, unexplained nose bleeds
• shortness of breath
• petechiae (tiny red spots under the skin caused by bleeding)
• swollen lymph glands
• anemia (low red blood cell counts)
• night sweats
• bone or joint pain
• recurring infections

Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an uncommon blood cancer that affects the bone marrow, the body's blood-forming system, and can lead to kidney problems. 

Causes and risks of multiple myeloma:

• Those over the age of 65 are at a high risk.
• Men are slightly more likely to develop multiple myeloma.
• African-Americans are twice as likely as white Americans to develop multiple myeloma.
• Radiation exposure can increase your risk.
• Family history: If a parent, brother or sister has the disease, your risk is four times higher.  
• Obesity
• Other plasma cell diseases: If you have had one of the following you are at higher risk:
  • A precancerous condition called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
  • A single tumor of plasma cells (solitary plasmacytoma)

Multiple myeloma symptoms:

• fractures
• bone pain
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• confusion
• appetite changes
• infection

Diagnosis

To look for a blood disorder, your doctor may order:

• blood chemistry tests, including blood differential tests, protein levels, liver function tests, kidney function tests and uric acid level
• bone marrow biopsy
• lymph node or other tissue biopsy
• CT scans
• complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia and white blood count
• PET scans
• MRI

Diagnosis of leukemia is based on the results of blood and bone marrow tests, including bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy. Some cases of leukemia are hereditary. Genetic counseling may be right for you.

Multiple myeloma diagnosis involves blood and urine tests, including:

• ​serum protein electrophoresis
• 24-hour urine
• immunofixation (IFE test)

Treatment

You may receive one are more these treatments:

• chemotherapy
• radiation therapy
• biological therapy
• surgery (removal of spleen)
• bone marrow transplant
• stem cell transplant that uses your own stem cells.
• multiple myeloma plasma exchange

The connection between hematology and oncology is that both fields overlap due to the presence of cancers of the blood. Hematology is the study of blood and its diseases while oncology is the study of cancer.

Patients who are diagnosed with blood cancer can consult either a hematologist or oncologist for their treatment. Hematologists are doctors who study about blood and the tissues that form blood. They can give treatment for various blood disorders after performing different laboratory tests.