| Hematology is a medical
specialty concerned with the study of blood and
blood-forming tissues. Physicians in this field
are known as hematologists. They study, diagnose,
and treat blood disorders such as leukemia, anemia,
and hemophilia, as well as diseases of the organs
that produce blood, including the lymph nodes, bone
marrow, and spleen.
Blue Ridge Cancer Care (BRCC) hematologists use
laboratory-based blood tests to diagnose a variety
of disorders. Of particular importance are blood
tests that provide information about the cellular
components of a patient's blood. The most common
test, called a complete blood count (CBC), indicates
the number of red blood cells, white blood cells,
and platelets in a given unit of blood.
BRCC hematologists treat chronic blood disorders
such as leukemia, a broad group of cancerous diseases
of blood-forming organs. The condition affects
white blood cells and is usually diagnosed by
blood tests that indicate abnormal numbers of
these cells. Treatment, which often is coordinated
by hematologists and cancer specialists called
oncologists, typically involves a combination
of drug and radiation therapy and may also include
a bone marrow transplant.
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