Blood Diseases
Your blood is living tissue made up of liquid and solids. The liquid part, called plasma, is made of water, salts and protein. Over half of your blood is plasma. The solid part of your blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Red blood cells deliver oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and organs. White blood cells fight infection and are part of your body’s defense system. Platelets help blood to clot. Bone marrow, the spongy material inside your bones, makes new blood cells. Blood cells constantly die and your body makes new ones. Red blood cells live about 120 days, platelets six days and white cells less than one day.
Patients with disorders of the blood require an accurate diagnosis to receive the most effective care, and at Maryland Oncology Hematology, our team of blood disorder experts diagnose and treat many types of blood disorders including:
- Bleeding disorders
- Platelet disorders
- Bone marrow disorders
- Immune system disorders.
- Hemophilia
- Anemia
There are also several kinds of blood cancers including:
Our board certified hematologists treat many different types of blood disorders, and treatments for blood disorders can be as varied as the disorders themselves. Some types of anemia, for example, can be controlled through diet and nutrition. Other blood disorders require more aggressive treatment.
From the use of chemotherapy and immunosuppressive drugs to growth factor drugs and blood and marrow transplantation, our hematologists use the latest in therapies and technologies to treat all types of blood disorders. Also, we work closely with our other cancer care specialists, pharmacies, and on-site laboratory to ensure comprehensive care of our patients.
At Maryland Oncology Hematology, we are dedicated to expanding the knowledge of cancer and blood disorders, and we are continually working to find better treatment options through clinical trials and other types of research. As part of US Oncology Research, we are able to participate in more clinical trials and provide important access to investigational drugs to people in our community. Click here to search our current blood cancer clinical trials.
Maryland Oncology has nine locations in Maryland and Washington DC, including in Bethesda, Brandywine, Clinton, Columbia, Lanham, Laurel, Rockville, Silver Spring, and Wheaton, making it possible for you to meet with a blood disease specialist near you.
