Blood Cancers
We Treat Near You at RCCA, Including Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Multiple Myeloma

Getting a blood cancer diagnosis can be intimidating. With the right care, many patients survive and maintain a high quality of life. Many individuals faced with a blood cancer diagnosis turn to Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) for treatment. RCCA is a group of more than 90 medical oncologists and hematologists who treat patients who have solid tumors, blood-based cancers and benign blood disorders at more than 20 locations throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, DC area, helping patients achieve the best outcomes.

Key Takeaways

Blood cancers are cancers that start in blood-forming cells.
Types of blood cancers treated at RCCA include leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
Blood cancers are diagnosed with a complete blood count (CBC), peripheral blood smear, bone marrow biopsy, and molecular profile.
RCCA offers advanced treatments to help patients achieve the best outcomes. Our services include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation.

What Is Blood Cancer?

Blood cancers are cancers that start in the blood-forming cells. They develop when just a few cells develop a DNA mutation that triggers uncontrollable growth. The mutated cells divide and reproduce at a rapid rate, eventually crowding out healthy tissue. They also produce abnormal blood cells that cannot perform their function correctly. Blood cancer prevents the blood and lymph systems from fighting infection, transporting nutrients, and performing other essential roles to keep the body alive.

How Common Are Blood Cancers?

Blood cancers are a relatively common type of cancer. They account for approximately 10% of new cancer diagnoses, with approximately 192,070 new blood cancer diagnoses every year. They also cause about 10% of all cancer-related deaths. Although most blood cancers are more common in older populations, children are more likely to develop blood cancer than other types of cancer.

What Is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow, which is responsible for most blood cell reproduction. It causes the overproduction of blasts. Blasts are immature cells that eventually develop into functioning white blood cells. In a healthy body, less than 5% of all blood cells are blasts. With leukemia, blasts multiply uncontrollably and never mature. The bloodstream becomes overpopulated with immature cells that cannot perform their function.

What Are the Different Types of Leukemia?

Leukemia is divided into subtypes based on two qualities: how quickly they spread, and what types of cells they form in. Acute leukemias progress rapidly, while chronic leukemias can develop for years before patients notice a problem. Myeloid leukemias start in cells that produce non-specialized white blood cells, whereas lymphocytic leukemias start in cells that produce lymphocytes.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) starts in myeloid cells and spreads aggressively. It is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults, accounting for about one out of three adult diagnoses. Although AML is extremely aggressive, most patients achieve full remission with the right treatment.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, starts in lymphocytes and spreads aggressively. It occurs more frequently in children and teenagers than in adults. Children and teenagers also tend to get better treatment outcomes than adults.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) starts in myeloid cells and usually spreads slowly, but it can sometimes accelerate into the blast crisis phase, where it acts like an acute leukemia. CML is relatively uncommon, accounting for only 15% of all leukemia diagnoses, and is primarily seen in older adults.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) starts in lymphocytic cells and spreads extremely slowly. Most cases cause no symptoms and are only detected with a routine blood test. Very rarely, CLL undergoes Richter’s transformation where it changes into an aggressive type of lymphoma.

What Are the Symptoms of Leukemia?

The symptoms of leukemia vary depending on the leukemia type. Some leukemias present as a sudden onset of severe symptoms, while others start subtly and gradually develop into chronic conditions with a consistent effect on the patient’s life. Understanding both types can help individuals identify when something is wrong and seek care when they need it.

What Are the Symptoms of Acute Leukemia?

In acute leukemia, symptoms appear suddenly and worsen rapidly. The disease can quickly develop from no symptoms into a crisis state that requires emergency care. Patients often experience:

Severe fatigue
Shortness of breath
Pale skin
Easy bruising
Abnormal bleeding
Petechiae, or tiny red dots
Recurring infections
Bone pain
Swollen lymph nodes
Unexplained fevers

If an individual very suddenly develops breathing problems, vision changes, nausea, or loss of muscle control, then they should go to the emergency room immediately. These are symptoms of leukostasis, also known as blast crisis, caused by an extremely high white blood cell count. Leukostasis is a medical emergency that requires immediate care.

It is important to note that the great majority of individuals who experience one or more of the symptoms listed in this article will not have cancer. Nonetheless, it is important to consult a physician about these symptoms, particularly if they are pronounced, arose suddenly, or have persisted for an extended period. Prompt evaluation will enable a doctor to address your concerns and to provide a treatment plan for whatever condition may be responsible for the symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Leukemia?

In chronic leukemia, symptoms develop gradually. Many patients do not experience any changes for years after their diagnosis. When symptoms appear, they may include:

Chronic fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Night sweats
Fullness or discomfort in the abdomen
Enlarged lymph nodes

As above, many individuals experiencing one or more of these symptoms will not have the disease. However, it is important to report these symptoms to a physician.

What Is Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a blood cancer that develops in the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are tiny organs that act as filters for the lymphatic system. They also produce lymphocytes, a type of specialized white blood cell that hunts down harmful invaders. In lymphoma, the lymphocytes multiply out of control. Abnormal lymphocytes build up in the lymph nodes, creating solid masses similar to solid tumors.

What Is Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common lymphoma type in children and adolescents. This type usually develops in the upper body and has a predictable symptom progression that moves from one cluster of lymph nodes to the next. It also produces large Reed-Sternberg cells that are easy to recognize under a microscope. For these reasons, Hodgkin lymphomas are often diagnosed earlier, and treatments are generally more effective.

What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is an umbrella for all lymphomas that do not produce Reed-Sternberg cells. It includes over 100 subtypes, each with its own presentation and behavior. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can be high-grade (fast-growing) or low-grade (slow-growing), and some are more treatable than others. RCCA treats the following subtypes:

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a high-grade lymphoma that affects B lymphocytes, or B cells. Although it grows quickly, DLBCL can be effectively treated.

Follicular Lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma is a low-grade lymphoma that affects B cells. It is a relapsing disease, meaning that the cancer keeps coming back. Even so, most patients respond well to treatment and maintain a high quality of life while managing follicular lymphoma.

Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare cancer that develops in a part of the lymph nodes called the mantle zone. It resembles a low-grade lymphoma but can sometimes behave like a high-grade condition. While treatment is usually effective, the lymphoma is very likely to return.

Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is a group of rare, low-grade lymphomas that are often associated with chronic infections or autoimmune diseases. The most common MZL, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, is very likely to cause stomach complications.

What Are the Symptoms of Lymphoma?

The symptoms of lymphoma vary depending on the subtype, but most types cause similar complaints. Individuals with lymphoma often experience the following:

Swollen lymph nodes
Chest pain
Abdominal swelling or discomfort
Persistent and severe fevers
Night sweats
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Itchy skin
Bone pain

Weight loss, fever, and night sweats are sometimes called “B symptoms.” This specific symptom grouping is a valuable staging indicator for Hodgkin lymphoma, as it indicates that the cancer has spread through the whole body. While non-Hodgkin lymphoma may present similarly, the B symptoms are a less accurate indicator of its progression.

What Is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow, similar to leukemia, and affects the plasma cells. Plasma cells are responsible for producing antibodies, or specialized proteins that latch onto viruses and bacteria to show white blood cells where to attack. In multiple myeloma, the cancerous plasma cells produce ineffective antibodies that cannot identify or latch onto invaders. Instead of fighting disease, the antibodies accumulate in the kidneys and other organs.

What Are the Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is identified based on the CRAB criteria. CRAB stands for calcium elevation, renal impairment, anemia, and bone damage. Each of these indicators comes with its own symptoms, and any one of them can be used to diagnose multiple myeloma.

C – Calcium Elevation

As bones break down, they release excess calcium into the bloodstream. Patients experience symptoms of elevated calcium levels, including:

Mental confusion
Dehydration
Constipation
Fatigue
Weakness

R – Renal Problems

M-proteins, or faulty antibodies produced by myeloma cells, can pass from the bloodstream into the urine. If they do, they cause kidney damage, with symptoms such as:

Impaired circulation
Fatigue
Mental confusion

A – Anemia

Myeloma cells crowd out healthy red blood cell-producing cells in the bone marrow, resulting in a deficit of red blood cells. Patients develop symptoms of anemia, including:

Fatigue
Weakness
Shortness of breath
Pale skin

B – Bone Damage

Myeloma activates osteoclasts, which destroy bone, and blocks the cells that repair bone. This results in osteoporosis and bone lesions, with symptoms that include:

Bone pain
Frequent fractures
Total bone collapse
Nerve damage

What Are Myelodysplastic Syndromes?

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are a group of blood cancers that affect myeloid cells. The myeloid cells are stem cells that can mature into one of three types of blood cells:

Red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body
Platelets, which form blood clots to stop bleeding
White blood cells, which help fight infection and disease

In myelodysplastic syndrome, the myeloid cells do not mature. Instead, the stem cells die in the bone marrow or after entering the blood. The immature cells leave less room for healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to form.

What Are the Symptoms of Myelodysplastic Syndromes?

There are multiple types of myelodysplastic syndromes, categorized based on which types of blood cells are in deficit. The symptoms vary depending on which MDS they have. Most patients will experience some, but not all, of the following symptoms:

Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Pale skin
Frequent infections
Easy bruising
Unusual bleeding
Petechiae, or pinpoint spots under the skin

Symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes can closely resemble those of leukemia. They are different primarily in their onset. Leukemia, especially acute leukemia, tends to have a faster onset than MDS. Myelodysplastic syndromes develop slowly over months or years, and many cases are discovered on routine bloodwork before any symptoms appear.

What Are Myeloproliferative Neoplasms?

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are rare blood cancers that affect myeloid cells, similar to myelodysplastic syndromes. In individuals with a myeloproliferative neoplasm, the myeloid cells overproduce. The blood thickens with excessive numbers of blood cells. Eventually, the bone marrow may stop producing any healthy cells at all, leading to other medical issues. MPNs can sometimes develop into acute myeloid leukemia.

What Are the Types of MPNs?

There are many kinds of MPNs. Most of them fall under one of three categories, depending on what cell type is overproduced. The main types of MPNs are:

Polycythemia Vera

Polycythemia vera is a rare, chronic MPN that is most commonly diagnosed in older adults. It develops when a genetic mutation causes the overproduction of red blood cells. The blood thickens and becomes prone to clotting. Patients experience symptoms such as:

Headaches
Dizziness
Fatigue
Visual disturbances
An enlarged spleen

Essential Thrombocythemia

Essential thrombocythemia is an MPN disorder that is most commonly diagnosed in older adults. It occurs when the bone marrow produces too many platelets, resulting in clotting and sometimes bleeding issues. Patients experience symptoms such as:

Headaches
Dizziness
Burning pain, warmth, or tingling in the extremities
Unexplained bruising or bleeding
Night sweats

Myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis is the most aggressive subtype of MPN. It occurs when the bone marrow overproduces platelets. The excess platelets produce chemicals that prompt the growth of fibroblasts, a type of cell that matures into scar tissue. Fibroblasts overproduce and eventually take over the bone marrow. This prevents the bone marrow from producing enough blood cells, causing symptoms such as:

Severe fatigue
Shortness of breath
Pale skin
Unexplained weight loss
Low-grade fevers
Unusual bleeding or bruising
Frequent infections
Bone pain
An enlarged spleen

How Are Blood Cancers Diagnosed?

Diagnosing blood cancers involves a combination of blood tests and biopsies. These tests involve taking a sample of blood or bone marrow and evaluating it in a laboratory to look for abnormal cell counts, blasts, or cancerous cells. Each test provides more information to help hematology-oncologists pinpoint the patient’s condition and plan an appropriate treatment.

Complete Blood Count

A complete blood count (CBC) test measures a sample of blood to determine how many white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets are present. Unusually high or low numbers of any cell type may indicate a blood cancer or other hematological condition.

Peripheral Blood Smear

A peripheral blood smear involves studying a thin smear of blood under a microscope. The blood is usually stained to highlight cells, making them easier to examine. This test lets hematology-oncologists spot abnormal cells, such as blasts, to confirm that the patient has blood cancer.

Bone Marrow Biopsy

A bone marrow biopsy uses a specialized hollow needle to extract a small sample of bone marrow, called a core. The sample is examined under a microscope to look for blasts, fibroblasts, abnormal cells, and other indicators of bone marrow cancer.

Cytogenetic and Molecular Testing

Bone marrow samples are also used to produce a molecular profile. By observing a cancer cell’s unique physical characteristics and chromosomes, hematology-oncologists can pinpoint the cancer type and predict how it will respond to certain treatments. Techniques used in molecular profiling include:

Next-generation sequencing
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
Flow cytometry

How Are Blood Cancers Treated?

No two blood cancers are alike. To help patients get the best outcomes, RCCA hematology-oncologists take all factors into account while recommending the best treatment plan. We give patients access to the most advanced treatment types, with options that may include:

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting is sometimes an option for slow-growing blood cancers, including chronic leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes. Watchful waiting involves monitoring the cancer with regular tests. If the cancer shows signs of accelerating, then the patient can begin active treatment.

Chemotherapy

Most blood cancer treatments start with chemotherapy. This treatment type uses strong drugs that kill fast-growing cells. Chemotherapy typically occurs in two phases. The aggressive induction phase aims to kill cancer cells and halt their spread, while the consolidation phase aims to destroy any cells that remain and prevent a relapse.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of personalized medicine that targets cells with specific molecular characteristics. This effectively destroys cancer cells without damaging healthy blood cells. Targeted therapies that have been approved by the FDA include:

BCR-ABL inhibitors: Used for chronic myeloid leukemia.
BTK inhibitors: Used for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma.
Venetoclax: Used for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is another type of personalized medicine. This one works by empowering the immune system to fight cancer, often achieving results when other treatments fail. Immunotherapies offered at RCCA include:

Rituximab: Used for lymphoma.
Checkpoint inhibitors: Used for numerous cancer types.
CAR-T cell therapy: Used for relapsed blood cancers.

Stem Cell Transplantation

Stem cell transplantation is often recommended at the end of blood cancer treatment. The transplant replaces dead cancer cells with healthy stem cells from a donor or from elsewhere in the patient’s body. This allows the body to replenish blood cells while helping it hunt down any remaining cancer.

Get Blood Cancer Care Near You in NJ, CT, MA, and the Washington, D.C., Area

Start your blood cancer treatment today at Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), which offers state-of-the-art care at over 20 community-based locations near you. RCCA specialists provide care to more than 30,000 new patients and 265,000 established patients each year. Patients have access to innovative therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted therapy, cutting-edge diagnostics as well as access to approximately 300 clinical trials in community-based centers close to home.

To learn more about RCCA, call 844-346-7222 or visit RCCA.com.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blood Cancer

What is blood cancer?

Blood cancer is a type of cancer that forms in blood-forming cells. It develops in the bone marrow or lymph nodes, where it triggers an overproduction of abnormal blood cells that crowd out the healthy ones, causing serious complications.

What is the difference between leukemia and lymphoma?

Leukemia is a blood cancer that forms in the bone marrow. Lymphoma, on the other hand, originates in the lymph nodes. Both types of blood cancers have subtypes, each with their own behavior and symptom presentation.

How is blood cancer diagnosed?

Some blood cancers are detected when they cause symptoms. Others are only discovered on routine blood tests. After detection, hematology-oncologists perform a series of tests, including a complete blood count, a peripheral smear, and a bone marrow biopsy. Each test provides more information to diagnose the cancer and plan treatment.

Is blood cancer curable?

Some blood cancers can be treated effectively, while others will keep coming back after treatment. However, even incurable cancers can often be managed to give patients a high quality of life.

What is the treatment for blood cancer?

There is no single treatment for blood cancer. Instead, RCCA oncologists develop personalized treatment plans based on the type and subtype of cancer that a patient has, its molecular profile, and the patient’s overall health. Treatment types include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

What is CAR-T cell therapy for blood cancer?

CAR-T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy. Oncologists extract the patient’s own T-cells, then genetically modify them in a laboratory to fight cancer. The modified T-cells are inserted back into the bloodstream, where they hunt down and destroy cancer.

Can blood cancer be detected with a routine blood test?

Yes, blood cancer can be detected with routine blood tests. In fact, many slow-growing types of blood cancers are more likely to be detected with routine tests than because of symptoms.

What is the survival rate for blood cancer?

The survival rate for blood cancer depends on the cancer type, its molecular profile, the patient’s health, and other factors. Some blood cancers have excellent survival rates, while others are more deadly. Advanced treatments are constantly improving outcomes to help more patients survive blood cancer than ever before.

Regional Cancer Care Associates — Offering advanced cancer care

Doctors at Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) are specialists in brain cancer. These experts have proven their leadership as professors, clinicians and researchers and were trained at the world’s most distinguished medical institutions. RCCA offers high-quality, advanced treatment near your home. We work with you and your family to make sure your care is second to none.

You can set up an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you. Or, for more information, call (844) 346-7222.