Blood Disorders

What are blood disorders?

Blood disorders are conditions that affect one or more parts of your blood, including the plasma, which is the liquid part, and the solid components like cells and platelets. Dr. Sankhala and his team have extensive experience diagnosing and treating many blood disorders, including anemia, bleeding disorders, and blood cancers.

Anemia

The most common blood disorder, anemia affects more than 3 million people in the United States. Anemia affects your red blood cells, which results in a lack of oxygen in your body. Common anemia symptoms include weakness, shortness of breath, and an irregular heartbeat.

Bleeding disorders

Bleeding disorders affect the way your blood clots. Hemophilia and von Willebrand disease are two bleeding disorders that prevent your blood from clotting properly, which may cause serious bleeding.

Though clotting is necessary to reduce bleeding from a wound, blood clots that form without an injury and those that don’t dissolve on their own can also lead to health problems, such as a pulmonary embolism.

Blood cancers

The three main types of blood cancers are lymphoma, myeloma, and leukemia. Blood cancers impair normal bodily functions, like fighting off infections and preventing excessive bleeding.

How are blood disorders diagnosed?

Dr. Sankhala and his team make specific recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders based on your needs. In addition to a thorough physical exam and medical history review, they may order tests, such as:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Bone marrow biopsy
• Lumbar puncture

They may also take imaging tests, like an X-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. These tests help them determine the best approach to treatment for your blood disorder.

What treatments are available for blood disorders?

Dr. Sankhala and his team combine innovative solutions with well-established treatments to develop a customized approach to managing your blood disorder. Treatment depends on the type and severity of your blood disorder but may include:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted drug therapy
• Stem cell therapy
• Surgery

Because blood disorders are complex, the team may collaborate with other medical specialists to ensure you receive the best treatment available.

For next-generation care of blood disorders, call Kamlesh Kumar Sankhala, MD, at NextGen Oncology or schedule an appointment online today.