Expert care, clear answers and support you can trust
Blood cancers start in the body’s bone marrow, blood, or lymphatic system. At Marshfield Clinic, our hematology and oncology specialists provide coordinated care, advanced therapies, and personalized support to help you move forward with confidence.
Contact us for care
Call: (866) 520-2510 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Types of blood cancers we treat
Blood cancers fall into four main categories: Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Each develops differently and requires a tailored approach.
Risk factors
Anyone can develop blood cancer, but the following may increase your risk.
- Age: Risk of blood cancers increase as you get older
- Gender: Some blood cancers are diagnosed more often in men than in women
- Family history: Having a close family member with leukemia, lymphoma, or conditions like MGUS may increase your risk
- Immune system problems: A weakened immune system due to autoimmune disease, certain medications or infection can increase the risk of developing lymphoma
- Previous cancer treatments: People who received chemotherapy or radiation in the past may have a slightly higher chance of developing leukemia
- Certain infections: Viruses like Epstein–Barr virus, HIV, HTLV-1, or hepatitis B or C can raise the risk for some blood cancers
- Environmental exposures: Exposure to high levels of radiation or chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde is linked to leukemia and myeloma
- Smoking
Signs and symptoms
Blood cancer can be hard to spot because symptoms often resemble common illnesses. If you experience symptoms that don’t get better, it’s important to talk with your doctor.
Common signs include:
- Swollen lymph nodes: Painless lumps in your neck, armpits, or groin
- Feeling very tired: Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms
- Fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss: These “B symptoms” are common in many lymphomas and leukemias
- Frequent infections: Blood cancers can weaken the immune system, making infections more common
- Easy bruising or bleeding: Nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or bruising that appears easily
- Bone pain: Often felt in the back, ribs or hips, especially common in multiple myeloma
- Shortness of breath or fullness in the belly: This may happen when the spleen or liver becomes enlarged
Treatments
Treatment varies depending on the type of blood cancer you have, and our care team will create a plan that’s right for you.
- Chemotherapy: Medicines that slow or stop cancer cells from growing. This is a common treatment for most blood cancers.
- Targeted therapy: These medicines look for specific changes in cancer cells and block their ability to grow.
- Immunotherapy or monoclonal antibodies: Treatments that help your immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. This treatment is used in many lymphomas, leukemias and myeloma.
- Radiation therapy: High-energy beams used to treat affected areas. Often used for lymphoma or when leukemia affects the brain or spine. Advanced techniques help protect healthy tissue. energy beams used to treat affected areas. This treatment is often used for lymphoma or when leukemia affects the brain or spine. Advanced techniques help protect healthy tissue.
- CAR T-cell therapy: Trains the immune system cells to fight cancers including multiple myeloma and certain types of lymphoma and leukemia.
- Stem cell transplant: Replaces unhealthy bone marrow with healthy stem cells. This may be recommended for certain leukemias, lymphomas and multiple myeloma.
- Supportive care: This includes blood transfusions, medications to prevent infection, treatments to protect your bones and therapies to help manage pain or fatigue.
Why choose us
- Comprehensive hematologic expertise across lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma
- Advanced technologies, including IMRT, IGRT and stem cell transplant programs
- Integrated supportive care, including symptom management and survivorship services
- A compassionate, clear, patient first communication style