Blood Disorders Related to Cancer or Cancer Treatment

Care for Cancer-Related Blood Disorders

Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can sometimes cause blood disorders. Examples include anemia, blood clotting concerns and bone marrow failures.

Chemotherapy can damage the bone marrow's ability to make platelets.

Bone marrow injury can lead to:

• Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). A blood cancer marked by too many white blood cells.
• Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells. This is benign blood disorder. In some cases, MDS progresses and becomes AML.

How We Diagnose Blood Disorders

When you come to Winchester Hospital for a blood condition, you meet with a hematologist. Your doctor:

• Completes a physical exam.
• Orders blood tests.
• Reviews your medical history.

Hematologists and hematopathologists analyze a sample of your blood under a microscope. They look at the shape of the red cells, white cells and platelets. Sometimes other tests, like a bone marrow biopsy, are needed.

Treatments for Blood Disorders

Our hematology team is highly skilled at identifying benign blood diseases from underlying cancer-related blood conditions. We tailor a care plan just for you.

Treatment options include:

• Apheresis. Blood is filtered to remove platelets, plasma or white blood cells.
• Blood transfusions. To replenish plasma, platelets or red blood cells.
• Injections. To receive vitamin B12 or clotting factors.
• Medicine. Taken orally or intravenously.
• Photopheresis. Used to treat a leukemia-like phase of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Blood is removed and treated with medicine activated by ultraviolet light. The treated blood is then returned to the patient.

Some severe benign blood disorders like bone marrow failure or sickle cell anemia, require different treatments. Management plans may include:

• Bone marrow transplant
• Stem cell transplant
• Surgery to remove the spleen