Haemato-oncology (blood cancer treatment)

You may need to have haemato-oncology treatment if you have been diagnosed with blood cancer.

Blood cancer, or haematological cancer is a type of cancer that affects your blood, bone marrow, or lymphatic system. Blood cancer can be acute (fast-growing) or chronic (slow-growing).

There are several types of blood cancer including:

• Leukaemia: A group of cancers that develop in the bone marrow where blood cells are made.
• Lymphoma: A group of cancers that develop in the lymphatic system (part of your immune system that produces a fluid called lymph).
• Myeloma: Affects the plasma cells in your blood. 
• Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN): Causes an excess of one or more types of blood cells to be produced changing the thickness of the blood and disrupting normal blood function. 
• Myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS): A group of cancers that cause abnormal blood stem cells (blast cells) to be produced in the bone marrow.
• Aplastic anaemia: A blood disorder where your bone marrow doesn’t produce enough blood cells and platelets leading to an increased risk of infection, heart problems and other complications. 

The cost of haemato-oncology treatment depends on your individual circumstances. At the time of your appointment your consultant will discuss all options with you and ensure all your questions are answered.

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant's outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you.

The symptoms of blood cancer may vary from person to person and depend on the type of blood cancer you have. Some people with blood cancer have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease or may have symptoms similar to a cold or the flu.

Symptoms of blood cancer may include:

• Frequent infections
• Chest pain
• Cough 
• Fever or chills
• Unexplained rash, bruising, or bleeding
• Itchy skin 
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Night sweats
• Shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue (due to anaemia)
• Swollen, painless lumps (lymph nodes) in your neck, armpits, or groin

At your first consultation, you will be seen by a consultant private haemato-oncologist, a doctor specialising in blood cancers. Your first appointment is important as it’s where you’ll meet your consultant, the doctor responsible for your care.

During your appointment, your consultant will ask you about your symptoms, family and medical history and general health. They will spend time getting to know you, discuss your expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have. At Circle Health Group, we want you to be as well-informed and comfortable as possible during your time with us, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment.

Your consultant may order tests and/or scans to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of blood cancer. These may include:

• Blood tests
• Bone marrow tests
• Imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, PET scan, or MRI 
• Lymph node removal (to determine the stage of your cancer)

Your consultant will diagnose blood cancer based on a combination of your symptoms, a physical examination and the results of your tests and scans.

There are several treatments for blood cancer and your treatment will depend on the type and stage of blood cancer you have. Your consultant will work with other members of your healthcare team to create an individualised treatment plan tailored to your needs. Your consultant may recommend a single treatment or a combination of treatments to treat your blood cancer.

Watch and wait 

If you have a slow-growing (chronic) blood cancer, your consultant may adopt a “watch and wait” approach. This is where your healthcare team monitor you closely with blood tests and regular check-ups to see if symptoms develop or worsen before starting treatment.

Some blood cancers can be managed for many years with ongoing treatment. Treatments for blood cancer include:

Chemotherapy 

Lymphoma, myeloma and leukaemia are often treated with chemotherapy that uses powerful drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy medication is usually given intravenously (directly into a vein) and treatment is normally in cycles which means you have chemotherapy every day for a set number of days and then go a few weeks with no treatment. You can usually have chemotherapy as an outpatient, meaning you come to the hospital for your treatment and go home afterwards. Chemotherapy can also be given as tablets, either as a short-term course of treatment or as a long-term treatment.

Chemotherapy drugs are “cytotoxic”, meaning they are toxic to cells, and in addition to killing cancer cells, the treatment can also damage healthy cells. This can cause side effects, which can be unpleasant. You can read more about the possible side effects of chemotherapy and other haemato-oncology treatments in our complications and side effects section below.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy uses high-energy rays, such as X-rays, to destroy cancer cells. It can be used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Radiotherapy can be used in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and immunotherapy. It can also help relieve blood cancer symptoms such as pain and improve your quality of life.

The most common type of radiotherapy used to treat blood cancer is External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT). Radiotherapy treatment is normally carried out as an outpatient, and you will usually have to attend the hospital oncology unit for treatment every day for several weeks. During your radiotherapy treatment session, you will lie on a bed with the radiotherapy machine above you and high-energy rays will be directed at the part of your body being treated. Radiotherapy is painless and your treatment session will normally last between 10 and 40 minutes.

Targeted therapies

Cancer cells have changes in their DNA that make them different from normal cells. Targeted therapies work by targeting these changes and killing the cancer cell or preventing it from growing and spreading. Targeted therapy may be given in combination with chemotherapy or on its own. The treatment can be given IV (directly into a vein) or in the form of tablets or injections. There are several types of targeted therapy used to treat blood cancer including:

• Monoclonal antibodies: These are artificial antibodies (naturally occurring substances that fight infections) that target and destroy cancer cells. 
• Cancer growth blockers: Block chemicals in your body called growth factors and prevent cancer cells from growing and dividing. 
• TKIs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors): Tyrosine kinases are enzymes that send signals to cancer cells telling them to grow and divide. TKIs block these signals and prevent the cancer from growing.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy works by triggering your immune system to attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy medications attach to cancer cells which makes it easier for your immune system to find and destroy them. Some types of advanced immunotherapy work by genetically modifying your own infection-fighting cells to make them more effective in finding and destroying cancer cells.

Stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant)

Stem cells are cells in an early stage of development and all blood cells start as stem cells when they are produced in your bone marrow. A stem cell transplant involves having high doses of chemotherapy to destroy your cancerous stem cells before replacing them with new, healthy stem cells. You may also have a stem cell transplant following chemotherapy if your bone marrow and stem cells were damaged during the treatment. Having a stem cell transplant involves giving the new stem cells into a vein in a similar way to chemotherapy.

There are two types of stem cell transplant:

• Autograft/autologous: Uses your own stem cells that are taken before treatment and transplanted back to you.
• Allograft/allogeneic: Uses stem cells from a donor.

Surgery

Surgery is not usually a treatment for blood cancer, but some patients with lymphoma may need an operation to remove their spleen called a splenectomy. 

Recovering from haemato-oncology treatment varies depending on the type of treatment you had, your diagnosis, general health and individual recovery process. Your consultant will give you instructions to follow during your recovery, tell you what to expect after your haemato-oncology treatment and answer any questions you may have. Our expert multidisciplinary team will be on hand to support you fully throughout your recovery. Being as well-informed as possible about your treatment and what to expect afterwards can help your recovery go as smoothly as possible.

Blood cancer treatments can have side effects and complications. Possible side effects of haemato-oncology treatment vary from person to person and depend on the type of treatment you had. Your consultant will explain all the possible side effects before you start your treatment, advise you on how to lessen or cope with them and answer any questions you may have. Many side effects can be treated with medication and usually improve once your treatment is finished.

Chemotherapy side effects 

Possible side effects of chemotherapy include:

• Fatigue 
• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Increased risk of infection
• Bleeding or bruising easily 
• A sore mouth and/or throat 
• Anaemia: symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath and heart palpitations 
• Diarrhoea or constipation 
• Hair loss
• Memory problems 
• Difficulty concentrating
• Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
• Blood clots
• Infertility (may be temporary or permanent)

Radiotherapy side effects

Possible side effects of radiotherapy include:

• Fatigue
• Nausea 
• Sore skin
• Muscle and joint stiffness 
• Hair loss around the area being treated 
• Loss of appetite 
• Sore mouth 
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) 
• Diarrhoea 
• Infertility 
• Sexual problems such as reduced sex drive, vaginal dryness, and erectile dysfunction

Targeted therapy side effects

Possible side effects of targeted therapy include:

• Allergic reaction 
• Skin changes such as a rash, itching, dryness, increased sensitivity to light, sores around the fingernails and toenails, and changes in skin colour 
• Facial swelling
• High blood pressure 
• Bruising or bleeding easily 
• Heart damage
• Poor wound healing
• Autoimmune reactions 
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Increased risk of infection
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Hair loss

Immunotherapy side effects

 Possible side effects of immunotherapy include:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Fatigue 
• Itchy rash
• Diarrhoea 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Hypothyroidism
• Adrenal insufficiency

Stem cell transplant risks and complications 

In addition to chemotherapy side effects, a possible complication following a stem cell transplant is graft versus host disease (GVHD).

This condition occurs when your body’s immune system attacks cells from the donor, or vice versa. GVHD can occur immediately after the stem cell transplant or more than a year later.

There are two types of GVHD:

• Acute graft versus host disease: Usually occurs within 100 days of your stem cell transplant but may develop later. It commonly affects your digestive tract, skin, or liver.
• Chronic graft versus host disease: This can occur any time after a stem cell transplant but usually starts within the first two years. It can affect your mouth, skin, liver, lungs, digestive tract, joints, muscles, or genitals.

At Circle Health Group, we have the experience and expertise to ensure the best possible care and outcome for our patients. As a patient with Circle Health Group, you can expect the highest standards of care including:

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• A range of delicious healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about haemato-oncology treatment, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 189 5499.

Haemato-oncology - Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Centre for Haemato-Oncology - Cancer Research UK

Blood Cancer (haemato-oncology) - The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust

About blood cancer - Blood Cancer UK