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The Joe Arrington Cancer Center (JACC) offers Hematology services. Hematology is the study and treatment of a number of diseases that effect the blood. Hematological disorders may be either hereditary or acquired later in life. Often, hematological disorders will be found through a blood test ordered by a primary care physician. There are three major classes of hematological disorders:

Abnormality of the Blood Counts
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test may show an abnormality in the blood counts. Counts for the Red Blood Cells may be too low or too high. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all other tissues of the body. They also carry away carbon dioxide, a waste product of cell activity. A shortage of red blood cells (anemia) causes weakness, shortness of breath, and tiredness.

An increase of red blood cells (polycythemia vera) might cause tiredness, swelling, pain in the bones, headaches, and may be hard on one’s heart.

Another count a physician may look at is the white blood cells. White blood cells (leukocytes) help defend the body against germs -- viruses and bacteria. There are quite a few types (and sub-types) of white blood cells. Each has a special role to play in protecting the body against infection. The three main types of white blood cells are granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes. Both a low count and an overabundance of white blood cells effect the body’s defense against germs.

The last count a physician would look at on a CBC would be the platelet count. Platelets are actually pieces that break off from certain bone marrow cells. They are called platelets because they look a little bit like plates when seen under the microscope. Platelets help prevent bleeding by plugging up areas of blood vessels damaged by cuts or bruises. Platelet counts may be either too high or too low as well.

Abnormalities in Clotting
Hematologists are also concerned with clotting disorders. If a person’s clotting factors are too low, the person may not be able to clot when cut. Hemophilia is probably the best known clotting disorder. Other people clot too much. Because of the abundance of clotting factors, a person may develop blood clots throughout the body. Clotting disorders can be either acquired or inherited. Both of these conditions can be deadly if not treated properly.

Malignancies or Pre-malignant Conditions that are found in the Blood or Lymphatic System
There are several types of cancer that are found within the blood or lymphatic systems. These are often called “liquid tumors”, as there is no solid mass, but a general overgrowth of blood cells. The most known of these cancers is probably leukemia. There are two classes of leukemia:

Acute means rapidly growing. Although the cells grow rapidly, they are not able to mature properly. Chronic refers to a condition where the cells look mature but they are not completely normal. The cells live too long and cause a build-up of certain kinds of white blood cells. There are several types of leukemia:

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL):
Affects children and adults: More common among children
Accounts for slightly more than half of all cases of childhood leukemia

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
(also called Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL):
Affects children and adults
Accounts for just under half of cases of childhood leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL):
Affects adults almost twice as common as CML

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML):
Affects mostly adults: very rare in children
About half as common as CLL

Another common disorder is Lymphomas. These are cancers that affect the lymphatic system. There are two main types of lymphomas: Hodgkin's lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL).

These two types of lymphoma can usually be distinguished from each other by examining the cancerous tissue under a microscope. In some cases, additional tests to identify specific chemical components of the lymphoma cells or tests of the cells’ DNA may be needed.

In addition to the above disorders, there are other diseases that Hematologists address, including myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome and many others.