Blood Cancer

Blood cancers account for about 10% of cancer diagnoses annually. At South Brooklyn Care in the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Elvira Neculiseanu, MD, and Aleksandre Toreli, MD, provide high-quality care for various types of blood cancer, including lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia. Call the office today to request a blood cancer consultation, or book your appointment online.

What is blood cancer?

Blood cancers are a group of diseases that cause your blood cells to divide and multiply uncontrollably. Over time, the overproduction of cells affects your normal bodily functions, interfering with your immune system’s ability to fight infection.

What kinds of blood cancer are there?

At South Brooklyn Care, the team specializes in diagnosing and treating various blood cancers, including:

Leukemia

Leukemia begins in your bone marrow. It causes your body to produce abnormal white blood cells, interfering with the production of red blood cells and platelets.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma develops in your lymphatic system. Specifically, this cancer develops in lymphocytes –– white blood cells that help your body fight infection.

Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma also develops in the lymphocytes. The difference is that Hodgkin lymphoma is characterized by a particular type of abnormal cell –– the Reed-Sternberg cell.

Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects the plasma cells. These are another of the infection-fighting white blood cells.

What are the symptoms of blood cancer?

Symptoms of blood cancer include:

• Night sweats
• Fever
• Chills
• Headaches
• Abdominal discomfort
• Shortness of breath

You might also experience frequent infections or swollen lymph nodes in your neck or underarms.

How is blood cancer diagnosed?

Your South Brooklyn Care provider reviews your medical charts, asks about your symptoms, and completes an exam. They check your lymph nodes for swelling and look for signs of infection and bruising.

Your provider then orders testing that can include:

Bloodwork

Bloodwork analyzes the number of specific components in your blood, like platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. An abnormal reading can indicate an underlying health problem, like blood cancer.

Biopsy

A biopsy analyzes your bone marrow or a sample of lymph tissue to check for cancerous or precancerous cells. If your biopsy confirms blood cancer, the team makes personalized treatment recommendations.

Imaging

Imaging scans provide a quick, noninvasive way to identify solid tumors and other abnormal growths.

How is blood cancer treated?

How blood cancer is treated will depend on which kind you have and how fast it’s progressing. Your South Brooklyn Care provider might recommend:

• Stem cell transplantation
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Combination of several treatments

The goal is to stop cancer from spreading and encourage your body’s healing process.

Call South Brooklyn Care today to explore the treatments for blood cancer, or book your appointment online.