When you or a loved one receive a blood cancer diagnosis, Sentara and our partners are here to help. Our team works together through our tumor boards to create personalized treatment plans for cancer.
What Is Blood Cancer?
Blood cancer can begin in bone marrow or tissue that carries white blood cells throughout the body to fight infection (lymphatic system). While blood cancer can occur in any cell type, it primarily affects white blood cells, causing the number of white blood cells in the blood to rise. Symptoms may include chills, fatigue, fever, bone and joint pain, weakness and weight loss.
Types of Blood Cancer We Treat
How We Diagnose Blood Cancers
We diagnose blood cancer with certain tests. Your doctor begins with a physical examination and talks with you about any symptoms you're experiencing.
Depending on your symptoms, you might have:
- Blood tests
- Biopsy
- Imaging tests
- Urine tests
Blood Cancer Treatments and Research We Offer
Our experts consider your age and cancer type when developing your personalized treatment plan. We also look at whether cancer has spread and how fast it is growing.
We offer targeted treatment methods and therapies for blood cancer, which may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy
- Combined high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant
- Immunotherapy
- Stem cell transplant
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
Learn more about our cancer treatments. Our experts and partners also research new ways to treat cancer. Please read about our work at our Sentara Health Research Center.
Cancer Support Services
We offer a range of services to support you during and after treatment for blood cancer. Learn more about cancer support services.
Contact Us
Find a cancer specialist or call 1-888-220-2214 to learn more.