Home > Cancer and Treatments > Blood, Lymphatic & Bone Marrow Cancers

Treatment

Chemotherapy

The primary form for the treatment of blood, lymphatic and bone marrow cancers is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a term applied to the many cancer-fighting drugs. The advantage of chemotherapy is that it can deliver cancer-fighting compounds to every part of the body, seeking out cancer cells that may not otherwise be apparent or easily reached. Learn more about this on our Chemotherapy web page.

Radioimmunotherapy

Mark Kaminski, M.D., Director, Adult Hematology Clinic pioneered the development of a treatment called radioimmunotherapy. This type of treatment involves the use of radioactive antibodies that seek out tumor cells. Dr. Kamanski and his colleagues developed Bexxar. Read more about it here.

Blood and Marrow Transplant

Another type of treatment used for these cancers is Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT). BMT is actually a transfusion of bone marrow stem cells or blood stem cells (collected from either a donor or the patient), which are used as a "rescue" for the patient after high doses of chemotherapy. There are several types of bone marrow transplantation. Learn more about BMT on our Blood and Marrow Transpant Program web pages.

Radiation Therapy

Finally, radiation therapy is also a method for treating those with blood, lymphatic and bone marrow cancers. Radiation Therapy (irradiation) is the use of high energy radiation, primarily x-rays, to kill cancer cells. Radiation Therapy can be used in combination with surgery, chemotherapy and/or biologic therapy to cure, control or palliate patients with cancer. What is cancer? Cancer is a group of many diseases identified by an uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.

Learn more about this treatment on the U-M Health System's Department of Radiation Oncology web site.

Questions?

If you have questions about what type of blood, lymphatic or bone marrow cancer you (or a friend or loved one) may have, or which clinic would be the best choice, please contact our Cancer AnswerLine™ at 800-865-1125 for assistance and resources.