Blood Cancer Care in Orange County

• Burkitt’s lymphoma
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
• Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML)
• Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
• Diffuse large B cell lymphoma
• Double-hit B cell lymphoma
• Follicular lymphoma
• Hairy cell leukemia
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGL)
• Mantle cell lymphoma
• Marginal lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Small lymphocytic lymphoma

• T cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

   

There are several subtypes of cutaneous lymphoma, which are classified by the type of cell affected (B cell or T cell).

Dozens of lymphoma types appear and act differently in the body. While lymphoma is a rare disease, some types are more common. 

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are rare types of cancer that affect bone marrow and blood cells.

There are many types and subtypes of multiple myeloma which are based on the type of immunoglobulin (antibodies) produced by the myeloma cells.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms are a group of six diseases in which bone marrow produces too many red or white blood cells or platelets. The six types include:

• Polycythemia vera
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia
• Essential thrombocythemia
• Primary myelofibrosis (also known as chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis)
• Chronic eosinophilic leukemia
• Chronic neutrophilic leukemia

Lab-made proteins given through an IV or subcutaneous (SQ) injection that help the body’s immune system fight cancer. Unlike regular antibodies that attach to just one target, bispecific antibodies can attach to two different targets at the same time. All bispecific antibodies work by targeting T cells, a type of immune cell. For example, some bispecific antibodies are designed to connect a cancer cell to a T cell. By bringing these cells together, the immune system can better recognize and attack the cancer, helping the body fight the disease more effectively.

For certain blood cancers, especially those that affect a single organ or a localized area, surgery may be a possible treatment option. Surgery may be selected as a choice for lymphomas — particularly those around the spleen — or other organs that do not form part of lymphatic system, such as the thyroid or stomach.

This treatment targets cancer cells in the body using chemicals to destroy them or prevent them from growing. While this therapy is effective, the drugs involved may also affect healthy, normal cells, which may produce side effects, making it more taxing on the body. In the case of some blood cancers, chemotherapy may be given in combination with radiation therapy and stem cell transplantation.

This therapy is becoming an important approach to the treatment of blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma because of the notable benefits it provides to the patient. During immunotherapy treatment, the patient receives medicines designed to enhance their body's own defenses, enabling them to more effectively identify, limit, or eradicate the cancer's growth. Many patients find that immunotherapy offers fewer and shorter-term side effects. Among the types of immunotherapy are T-cell therapy, cytokine treatment, donor lymphocyte infusion, monoclonal antibody treatment and radioimmunotherapy.

Studies are underway exploring vaccines that could be given after treatment that could recognize and suppress the cancer cells and possibly assist in extending the duration of remission.
 

Along with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, radiation therapy may form part of a wider treatment plan to reduce or eliminate blood cancer symptoms and enhance quality of life. This therapy consists of using high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to destroy cancer cells. The most widely used type of radiation therapy treatment for blood cancers is external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), which delivers radiation from outside the body. Radioimmunotherapy is another treatment option for certain blood cancers.

In this procedure, damaged or diseased cells are replaced by infusing healthy stem cells by transplantation into the patient’s body, stimulating it to produce healthy new blood cells. A stem cell transplant is often prescribed following chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments, which specifically target malignant blood cells, but may weaken the healthy blood cell system. 

Preventing the growth and survival of cancer cells is the aim of this treatment. Tests that examine the cells' DNA, proteins and other components are run to determine the most effective way to target the impacted cells. The course of action and treatment for the patient's cancer cell type are decided based on the results. Targeted therapy can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy or as a standalone treatment in the form of monoclonal antibodies, T-cell therapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).