Hematologic Oncology

What Is Hematologic Oncology?

The hematologic oncology unit operates through the joint work of two main medical specialties. Hematology is the medical field that treats blood-related diseases and problems, including those of the blood cells, blood vessels, lymph nodes and bone marrow. Through the tests carried out within it, it works on diagnosing the disease, planning treatment and treating the patient. Oncology is the medical specialty that studies and treats cancer. Hematologic oncology, in turn, focuses on the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of blood diseases and blood-related cancers. Hematologist-oncologists are doctors who specialize in bleeding disorders and cancers.

During consultations at the hematologic oncology clinic, the physician first listens to the patient’s complaints. The physician then asks questions to learn about the patient’s medical history, including family history and allergies. Next, vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure and vision are checked and a physical examination is performed. Depending on the complaints and symptoms, various laboratory and imaging techniques may be used. A diagnosis can be made through blood tests, bone marrow tests, biopsies and imaging tests.

If a person is diagnosed with a hematologic oncology disease, a treatment plan is prepared that is specific to both the disease and the individual. Treatment may include methods such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, blood transfusion, bone marrow transplantation or immunotherapy.

Hematologic oncology diseases require a specialist approach. People with complaints related to these diseases should consult a healthcare facility, and it is recommended that they choose facilities with physicians who specialize in this field. Hisar Hospital Intercontinental is a healthcare institution that closely follows medical advances and has doctors specialized in hematologic oncology.

Which Diseases Does Hematologic Oncology Treat?

In the hematologic oncology unit, all diseases related to blood cells, blood vessels, lymph nodes and bone marrow are examined and treated. The diseases covered by this unit can be listed as follows:

• Lymphoma: White blood cells are an important part of the immune system. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells. It is characterized by enlarged lymph nodes, in other words, swelling of the lymph glands. These signs may be observed in different parts of the body. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that usually develops as a result of changes in the genetic structure of growing blood cells. Various treatment methods are available, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy or stem cell transplantation.

• Multiple myeloma: Bone marrow, which is involved in producing blood cells, is a spongy tissue found inside certain bones. Multiple myeloma is a type of bone marrow cancer. Multiple myeloma can affect the spine, skull, pelvis and ribs. It may cause symptoms such as bone pain, increased calcium levels in the blood and weight loss. What causes myeloma is not yet fully known.

• Acute and chronic leukemia: Leukemia is a type of cancer that develops in white blood cells. White blood cells are one of the most important parts of the immune system, fighting infections and various diseases in the body. When leukemia develops, the bone marrow begins to produce abnormal white blood cells. Leukemia is divided into two main groups: acute and chronic. Leukemia is a common type of cancer in childhood.

• Anemia (lack of blood): Anemia is a low number of red blood cells in the body. It is also commonly referred to as having “low blood”. There are different types of anemia, including hemolytic anemia, sickle cell disease, thalassemia and anemia due to blood loss. It may cause various symptoms such as constant fatigue, an increased pulse and jaundice. It can be treated with medication and blood transfusions. If the anemia develops because of another disease, different treatment methods may also be used to treat the underlying disease.

• Leukopenia: This is a condition that occurs when there are fewer white blood cells than normal. As neutrophils, which take on the defense role in the immune system, and other white blood cells decrease, patients become vulnerable to infections.

• Thrombocytopenia (low number of platelet cells in the blood): The small colorless cells in the blood that help it clot are called platelets. In thrombocytopenia, the body has fewer platelets than normal. While a healthy person’s platelet count should be between 150,000 and 450,000 per mm3, in patients with thrombocytopenia this number is below 150,000 per mm3. Thrombocytopenia, which may cause no symptoms at first, can lead to bleeding in the long term. Thrombocytopenia may develop due to congenital or acquired causes.

• Bleeding and clotting disorders: There are hematologic diseases, thrombocytopenia in particular, that prevent the blood from clotting or cause it not to clot sufficiently. Such diseases usually appear with symptoms such as bleeding gums, easy bruising, bleeding that is difficult to stop or blood in the stool. These disorders can develop due to the use of certain medications, genetic factor disorders, viral infections, autoimmune diseases or leukemia.

• Immune-related diseases: Many diseases examined in hematology, leukopenia in particular, are related to the immune system. Primary and secondary immunodeficiencies can also adversely affect the normal functioning of the immune system. When problems occur in the immune system, people may become vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. In addition to an increased risk of falling ill, immune-related diseases can become life-threatening in later years.

Each of the diseases examined within the hematologic oncology unit can pose a vital risk if it progresses. If symptoms of these diseases are noticed, a healthcare facility with a hematologic oncology unit should be consulted. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment and follow-up appointments with the doctor should not be neglected.

Services in the Hematologic Oncology Unit

The hematologic oncology unit offers various services covering diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment. By taking on the treatment of many life-threatening hematologic diseases, it works to improve patients’ quality of life and to prevent the disease from becoming life-threatening. Accordingly, the hematologic oncology unit includes a range of services. The services available in the hematologic oncology unit can be listed as follows:

• Outpatient clinic, where the findings of the disease are evaluated and the treatment protocol is decided

• HLA typing laboratory

• Hemapheresis laboratory

• Cryopreservation

• Stem cell processing laboratory

• Intensive care units, where patients are cared for and monitored after transplantation

• Inpatient ward

Each service in the hematologic oncology unit ensures that all the approaches the patient needs are provided. In the outpatient clinic, the patient is evaluated through consultations with a hematologist-oncologist. Samples taken are evaluated in the laboratories. The HLA typing laboratory enables detailed analysis of the diseases examined by the unit. If it is decided that the patient will undergo a stem cell transplant, stem cell processing laboratories equipped with advanced systems provide their services. After the transplant, the intensive care units and the inpatient ward are available if needed. All branches serving within the unit work in close coordination.

Treatments Provided in the Hematologic Oncology Unit

After a patient is diagnosed with a hematologic disease, a personalized treatment plan is prepared. The treatments planned by hematologist-oncologists aim to improve, stop or slow down the course of the disease. The treatments applied in this context can be listed as follows:

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the most commonly used form of cancer treatment. During treatment, the patient is given drugs to kill cancer cells. It is a treatment with side effects, the most common of which are fatigue and hair loss.

• Radiation therapy: This is a treatment applied to the areas of the body where the cancer cells are located. During treatment, radiation is delivered to the body. The aim is to kill cancer cells with radiation energy. Radiation therapy is used in approximately half of all cancer patients. It is a form of treatment with side effects.

• Blood transfusion: This is the procedure of giving the body blood taken from a healthy donor.

• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that helps the body use its own immune system to kill cancer cells. Different types of immunotherapy can be applied depending on the patient’s health needs. Various immunotherapy methods are available, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and cancer vaccines.

• Bone marrow transplantation: This is a procedure performed to restore the healthy production of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. There are two different types: autologous and allogeneic transplantation. Bone marrow transplantation is a powerful treatment that restores blood production.

Hisar Hospital Intercontinental provides care through its Integrated Oncology department, which follows the latest data in the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic oncological diseases. By adopting multidisciplinary approaches where necessary and working meticulously for a professional treatment process, it brings its patients together with the right treatments.

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