Hematology
At TMC Health Cancer Center, our board-certified hematologists treat a comprehensive range of blood disorders, from common conditions like anemia to complex diseases requiring specialized expertise. We provide personalized care for both benign & malignant blood disorders affecting your blood system.
Compassionate care
Hematology disorder care that centers on you
Whether you're facing anemia, a clotting condition, or a complex blood cancer like leukemia or lymphoma, our hematology team is here to guide you with expertise, empathy, and personalized care.
We treat each patient as a whole person—not just a diagnosis.
Our hematology specialists diagnose and treat a wide range of benign and malignant blood disorders, including:
Benign conditions:
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
- Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and clotting abnormalities
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
Malignant conditions:
- Leukemia (acute and chronic)
- Lymphoma (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin)
- Multiple myeloma
- Myeloproliferative neoplasms
Newly diagnosed patients
We're here to help.
Facing cancer diagnosis is daunting, but you're not alone. TMC Health Cancer Center offers warm, expert guidance with the full support of Southern Arizona's largest healthcare system.
It's often best to meet a medical oncologist after diagnosis to create a treatment plan that works best for you. We also welcome second opinions, ensuring you feel informed and empowered every step of the way.
From blood disorder basics to treatment and recovery
Our team of expert hematologists and oncologists at TMC Health Cancer Center is dedicated to diagnosing and treating a vast spectrum of diseases affecting the vital components of your blood system: the blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and immune system. This comprehensive expertise covers both malignant conditions (blood cancers) and a variety of non-malignant disorders.
We treat all forms of leukemia (acute and chronic), lymphoma (Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's), and plasma cell disorders like Multiple Myeloma.
Beyond cancer, we provide specialized care for complex non-malignant issues such as diverse anemias (e.g., iron deficiency, B-12 deficiency), hereditary and acquired bleeding disorders (like hemophilia), and life-threatening blood clotting disorders (e.g., Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism). Our integrated approach ensures personalized, expert management for every hematologic condition.
Leukemia is a group of cancers that affects the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and lymphatic system, leading to the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. At TMC Health Cancer Center, our hematology-oncology specialists have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating all major types of leukemia, offering state-of-the-art, subtype-specific care.
We treat Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myelocytic Leukemia (AML), which are characterized by the rapid growth of immature blood cells requiring urgent, intensive treatment, often involving aggressive chemotherapy protocols and sometimes allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Our care also encompasses the more slowly progressing Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia (CML). Treatment for CML has been revolutionized by targeted therapies, specifically Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs), which effectively target the abnormal protein driving the disease. For CLL, care may range from watchful waiting to highly effective, oral targeted agents and immunotherapy, moving away from traditional chemotherapy for many patients. We utilize molecular and genomic testing to precisely classify your leukemia, ensuring you receive the most current, targeted, and personalized treatment plan available.
Lymphoma is a cancer that originates in the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, and primarily affects the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow. Our program specializes in the comprehensive management of both main categories: Hodgkin's Disease (HL) and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). HL is often highly curable, and our experts utilize sophisticated treatment plans involving combination chemotherapy and highly focused radiation therapy. NHL, a more diverse group of cancers, requires an exceptionally precise diagnosis, as it includes over 60 subtypes, from aggressive forms like Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) to slower-growing ones like Follicular Lymphoma.
We employ advanced diagnostic techniques, including PET scans and molecular profiling of the biopsy tissue, to accurately stage and classify the specific NHL subtype. Treatment for NHL is highly personalized and may include chemo-immunotherapy (combining chemotherapy with targeted monoclonal antibodies like rituximab), novel targeted agents, and in some cases, stem cell transplantation. Our multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to ensure that whether you are facing a highly treatable Hodgkin's lymphoma or a complex, rare NHL subtype, you receive the most current and effective treatment strategy tailored to your disease and overall health.
Our specialists provide expert care for multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow, as well as related conditions like Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS), Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia, and Amyloidosis.
Multiple myeloma treatment has advanced significantly, and we utilize the latest combination therapies, including proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and, when appropriate, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation.
For patients with MGUS, we provide careful monitoring to track disease progression.
Treatment for Waldenström's and amyloidosis is highly individualized, often involving targeted agents and chemotherapy to control the abnormal protein production.
Our dedicated team manages the complexities of these diseases, focusing on achieving deep, sustained remissions and minimizing complications like bone damage and kidney failure.
This group of disorders originates in the bone marrow and affects the production of healthy blood cells.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) involve the production of defective blood cells, which can lead to severe anemia, infection, and, in some cases, progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs), including Myelofibrosis, Polycythemia Vera, and Essential Thrombocythemia, are characterized by the overproduction of one or more blood cell lines.
Treatment for MDS ranges from supportive care and growth factors to sophisticated hypomethylating agents. For MPNs, we use targeted Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, interferon, or therapeutic phlebotomy to manage symptoms, control cell counts, and reduce the risk of clotting or transformation to leukemia. We tailor treatment to mitigate risk and improve our patients' quality of life.
Anemia, a condition defined by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, is one of the most common blood disorders we treat. Our hematologists diagnose and manage all underlying causes, ranging from easily correctable nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency or vitamin B-12 deficiency, to more complex conditions. We specialize in diagnosing and treating forms of anemia related to red cell destruction (hemolytic anemias) and severe bone marrow failures, including aplastic anemia.
Diagnosis often involves a detailed evaluation of blood counts, iron studies, and sometimes a bone marrow biopsy. Treatment is highly personalized, including nutritional supplementation, intravenous iron, use of specific immune suppressants, or growth factor support to restore normal blood cell levels and alleviate symptoms like fatigue and weakness.
Clotting disorders, or hypercoagulable states, involve the tendency to form potentially dangerous blood clots, medically known as venous thromboembolism (VTE).
We specialize in managing and preventing clots such as Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT), which typically forms in the legs, and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), a life-threatening clot that travels to the lungs.
We also investigate and manage underlying causes, including hereditary factors and acquired conditions that lead to hypercoagulable states.
Our care involves detailed risk assessment, acute treatment with anticoagulation (blood thinners), and long-term management strategies. This is crucial for preventing recurrence, especially in patients undergoing cancer treatment, who are at an inherently higher risk for these serious and potentially fatal complications.
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is the foundational test in hematology, serving as the first critical step in diagnosing a vast array of blood disorders and cancers. This quick, routine test, often processed rapidly in our in-house laboratory, provides a detailed quantitative analysis of the three major cellular components of blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Deviations from the normal range—such as unexplained low red blood cells (anemia), elevated or abnormal white blood cells (potential infection, leukemia, or lymphoma), or irregular platelet counts (bleeding or clotting disorders)—immediately signal the need for further investigation.
Following an abnormal CBC, our specialists utilize specialized blood tests to refine the diagnosis. These can include tests to measure levels of specific enzymes and proteins, such as iron, B-12, and ferritin levels for different types of anemia, or protein electrophoresis to look for abnormal proteins (M-spikes) characteristic of multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders.
Additionally, flow cytometry and immunophenotyping performed on blood samples can characterize abnormal cell populations, which is essential for subtyping diseases like leukemia and lymphoma. These initial blood tests are indispensable for rapidly screening, localizing the potential issue to the bone marrow or peripheral blood, and directing the patient toward more definitive diagnostic procedures, ensuring we minimize the time between initial suspicion and confirmed diagnosis.
The bone marrow biopsy is the gold standard diagnostic procedure when a CBC or specialized blood test suggests a primary problem in the blood-forming tissue, which is the source of all blood cells.
This procedure involves two parts: Aspiration, which pulls out a liquid sample of the bone marrow, and a core biopsy, which extracts a small, solid piece of the bone marrow. The sample is typically taken from the posterior iliac crest (hip bone) and is performed by a specialized hematologist using local anesthesia; the procedure itself usually takes about 30 minutes.
Once obtained, the samples are analyzed by expert hematopathologists who look for abnormalities in cell structure, maturity, and proportion, which is crucial for distinguishing between different types of leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and myelofibrosis. Crucially, the biopsy is used to determine the exact cellularity (the amount of blood-forming tissue compared to fat) and to check for the presence of abnormal cell infiltrates, such as tumor cells from lymphoma or plasma cells from multiple myeloma.
This comprehensive microscopic and genetic evaluation provides the definitive diagnosis, allowing our care team to accurately stage the disease and plan the most effective, personalized treatment strategy.
Advancements in genetic science have made genomic and molecular testing a cornerstone of modern hematology, moving beyond simple cell counts to understand the underlying drivers of a patient’s disease.
These tests are performed on tissue or blood samples to identify specific DNA, RNA, or chromosomal alterations—such as mutations, translocations, or deletions—that are fueling the growth of blood cancer cells. For example, identifying the BCR-ABL fusion gene in chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) or specific mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is not just diagnostic, it is prescriptive, directly dictating the use of highly effective, targeted therapies like tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
This testing allows for highly individualized, precision medicine that often results in better outcomes with fewer systemic side effects than traditional chemotherapy.
In parallel, diagnostic imaging—including CT scans, PET scans, and sometimes MRIs—plays a vital role in determining the extent of the disease, particularly for lymphomas and multiple myeloma. PET scans, in particular, are invaluable for staging, identifying the locations of active cancer cells, monitoring response to treatment, and detecting relapse. The results from imaging combined with the genetic blueprint from molecular testing provide the complete picture necessary for staging the disease and creating a truly comprehensive, data-driven care plan.
Chemotherapy remains a foundational component for treating many aggressive hematologic malignancies, including various forms of acute leukemia and aggressive lymphomas. The goal of traditional systemic therapy is to destroy rapidly dividing cancer cells throughout the body, providing a total-body approach to a systemic disease.
At TMC Health, we administer chemotherapy using carefully designed protocols, often involving a combination of drugs to maximize effectiveness and minimize the development of resistance. Administration is typically done in our specialized infusion center by experienced oncology nurses who are experts in managing side effects.
For many patients, especially those with acute myeloid or lymphocytic leukemia, chemotherapy is used to induce remission, which is then often followed by consolidation and maintenance phases. While effective, our team prioritizes comprehensive side effect management, utilizing supportive medications and resources to control nausea, fatigue, and infection risk. Furthermore, for non-malignant disorders, systemic therapies may involve immunosuppressive drugs to treat conditions like aplastic anemia or pure red cell aplasia, demonstrating the breadth of traditional systemic drug use beyond just cytotoxic chemotherapy for cancer, all tailored to the patient’s specific diagnosis and clinical needs.
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy represent the leading edge of hematology, offering treatment options that are both potent and highly specific. Targeted therapies are drugs designed to interfere with specific molecular pathways or proteins within cancer cells that drive their growth and survival. A prime example is the use of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) to treat CML by directly blocking the activity of the BCR-ABL fusion protein.
Immunotherapy harnesses the body’s own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells; this includes the use of monoclonal antibodies that tag cancer cells or checkpoint inhibitors that release the brakes on immune cells. Crucially, our ability to use these treatments stems from precision medicine, which requires the initial genomic and molecular testing to identify the targetable markers. For instance, many patients with CLL and certain lymphomas can now receive oral targeted agents instead of intravenous chemotherapy, drastically changing the treatment experience and side effect profile.
For multiple myeloma, new classes of agents like proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs are combined to achieve deeper and longer-lasting remissions. This strategic, targeted approach often allows for more durable responses with reduced toxicity, fundamentally improving the quality of life and prognosis for our patients.
Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) is a potentially curative, high-intensity treatment option for several hematologic cancers, including high-risk leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma, as well as certain non-malignant blood disorders. This process involves high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation to destroy diseased or abnormal cells in the bone marrow, followed by the infusion of healthy, blood-forming stem cells.
There are two main types:
1. Autologous BMT, where the patient’s own stem cells are harvested and then reinfused after high-dose therapy, is often used for multiple myeloma and some lymphomas.
2. The second, more complex type is Allogeneic BMT, where stem cells are sourced from a compatible donor (a sibling, unrelated volunteer, or umbilical cord blood), primarily used for acute leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes to replace the entire blood and immune system.
The success of an allogeneic transplant relies heavily on a precise match and aggressive post-transplant monitoring to manage serious potential complications like Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD).
TMC Health works with leading transplant centers and has a dedicated team focused on pre-transplant workup, patient conditioning, and essential long-term follow-up care, ensuring patients have seamless access to this life-saving therapy while receiving supportive care close to home.
While chemotherapy and targeted agents form the core of systemic treatment, radiation therapy plays a vital supportive and therapeutic role in hematology. Radiation may be used to deliver targeted high-energy beams to specific sites of disease, such as to reduce the size of enlarged lymph nodes or tumors in lymphoma, manage bone pain caused by multiple myeloma lesions, or even as a component of the conditioning regimen before a bone marrow transplant (Total Body Irradiation or TBI).
The treatment is precisely planned by our radiation oncologists to maximize cancer cell destruction while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. Equally critical is supportive care, which is not a treatment for the cancer itself, but for the patient. This includes transfusions of blood or platelets, the use of growth factor drugs (like G-CSF) to boost white blood cell recovery after chemotherapy, and robust anti-infective strategies.
Finally, the role of lifestyle management cannot be overstated: for some chronic conditions like specific anemias, management can be significantly influenced by diet and nutrition (e.g., iron or B-12 supplementation), and overall fitness and healthy habits are encouraged to improve tolerance to therapy and quality of life.
