Our Hematologists are specialists in disorders related to your blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. They assist in diagnosing, treating and preventing both cancerous and non-cancerous blood disorders. Some examples of blood-related diseases and disorders treated by a hematologist include: Anemia, or low red blood cells, Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots), Leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma (cancers in your bone marrow, lymph nodes, or white blood cells), Sepsis, a dangerous reaction to an infection, Hemophilia, a genetic blood clotting disorder, Sickle cell disease, which involves faulty red blood cells, etc.
Hematologists spend a lot of time checking your blood. But they don’t just diagnose illnesses. They also do treatments, such as transfusing blood. Some of the testing and procedures when referred to a Hematologist are:
Complete blood count. This common test helps your doctor diagnose or monitor your disease. Blood drawn from your vein or finger is checked for the levels and characteristics of all three types of blood cells, including platelets.
Prothrombin time. This and a similar test called partial thromboplastin time look for bleeding or clotting disorders. They also check how well your medications and treatments are working.
Blood transfusion. It replaces blood you’ve lost in surgery, an accident, or an illness.
Chemotherapy. This is given by a specialist called a hematologist-oncologist. It infuses your body with chemicals to kill fast-growing cancer cells.
Bone marrow transplant. Also called a stem cell transplant, it replaces diseased stem cells from the spongy center of your bone with healthy cells from other parts of your body or from a donor.
Ablation therapy. Your hematologist uses heat, cold, a laser, or chemicals to destroy damaged tissue.