Hematologic (Blood) Cancer

Hematology refers to the care and treatment of blood disorders that can affect the cells that make up your blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system.

Blood cancer, also called hematologic cancer, affects the blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes or white blood cells. It is rare, but it can happen in children and adults.

There are three main types of blood cancer: leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma.

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells (usually white blood cells) and develops in the bone marrow. It is the most common form of childhood cancer.

Myeloma also is a cancer that begins in the white blood cells, but this form of cancer affects what are known as plasma cells, which make proteins that help the body fight off disease.

Lymphoma affects the cells of the body's disease-fighting network, known as the lymphatic system. This includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow. The main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

At Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, our Cellular Immunotherapy Program gives people in Hawaiʻi access to advanced cancer treatment close to home. We’re the only healthcare organization in the Pacific region offering cellular immunotherapy, which means patients can receive state-of-the-art care here in the islands while staying connected to the people and support systems that matter most.