Conditions We Treat

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells that fight infection (lymphoblasts), but red blood cells and platelets may also become cancerous.

Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells and as the cancer grows, healthy blood cells are crowded out. The type of leukemia varies, depending on the type of blood cell that has become cancerous. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells that fight infection (lymphoblasts), but red blood cells and platelets may also become cancerous.

Histiocytic disorders those that occur when the body produces too many white blood cells. This can lead to organ damage and can cause tumors to form. There are three main types of histiocytic diseases that are defined by the types of histiocytic cells involved.

The body’s lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins, waste and other undesirable materials. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is caused by abnormally-growing cells in the lymphatic system that may spread elsewhere in the body.

Lymphoma starts in the lymph cells that are part of the body’s immune system. There are several different types of lymphoma. Hodgkin’s disease, also called Hodgkin’s lymphoma, starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), is more common. Lymphoma of the skin starts only in the skin, not in any other organs or tissues. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), is another type of non-Hodgkin;s lymphoma in which the cancer cells make large amounts of an abnormal protein.

At Boston Medical Center (BMC), the care of patients with multiple myeloma is a collaborative, multidisciplinary process.

Myelodysplastic syndromes are cancers where the blood cells in the bone marrow do not mature properly. These immature blood cells do not work correctly and often die before they should. This can lead to a shortage of one or more types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that starts growing in the body’s lymph system. The lymph system is part of the immune system that helps fight off disease. NHL is a general term for several types of lymphoma. The other major type of lymphoma is Hodgkin lymphoma.

White blood cells fight viral and bacterial infections in the body. Having too few white cells is called leukopenia, a condition that puts a person at risk for infections. Having too many white cells is called leukocytosis, and this means there may be an infection present. Both conditions may be caused by a number of diseases, and both are usually diagnosed while a doctor is performing blood tests related to another suspected condition.