Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Cancer Program at Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County
At the Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County, our dedicated team of hematologists and oncologists specialize in treating different forms of blood cancer. The most common types are leukemia and lymphoma – blood cancers that form in the lymphatic system, which includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow.
Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Cancer Program at Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County
At the Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County, our dedicated team of hematologists and oncologists specialize in treating different forms of blood cancer. The most common types are leukemia and lymphoma – blood cancers that form in the lymphatic system, which includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow.
Our Approach to Blood Cancer Care
Our experts collaborate with you to provide a highly personalized treatment plan that helps support the best possible outcomes. Additionally, our oncology nurse navigators are always available to answer your questions and support you before, during and after treatment.
Blood Cancer Conditions We Treat
We focus on treating patients with blood cancer, including:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
- Lymphoma, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin
- Multiple myeloma
Meet Our Expert Cancer Team
At the Providence Orange County Cancer Institute, our multi-disciplinary team is committed to providing expert care to every patient. We work together to deliver a personalized approach to prevention and treatment, supporting you at every stage. With our collaborative expertise, you receive dedicated guidance and compassionate support throughout your journey.
Testing and Diagnostics
Our care team uses many tools to provide a diagnosis and learn which therapies will work best to treat your cancer type based on your individual needs.
Blood tests give doctors more information about your health, including your risk for common conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Based on your needs, your doctor orders tests that analyze different components in your blood, such as:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good cholesterol”
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad cholesterol”
- Total cholesterol
- Triglycerides
During a blood test, the phlebotomist inserts a needle into your vein – usually near the inside elbow. They draw blood, which usually takes about a minute, and send the samples to the lab for analysis. Your doctor discusses the results with you and determines how it might impact your treatment and care.
A bone marrow biopsy helps diagnose blood cancers and other disorders by examining the cells where blood is made. A small sample is taken, usually from the hip bone, to check for abnormal cells, assess disease severity and guide treatment decisions.
Genetic tests, also known as genetic screenings, DNA tests or chromosomal tests, can help determine your risk of developing certain cancers, especially if you have a family history of cancer. We offer treatment, management and prevention plans that are personalized to your unique genetic profile.
A lymph node biopsy helps diagnose or stage blood cancers by checking for abnormal cells in the lymphatic system. A small sample of tissue is removed – often from a swollen or suspicious node – to determine if cancer or another condition is present.
A PET scan is a nuclear imaging procedure that uses a combination of computer technology and a radioactive imaging agent called a tracer to produce clear, high-resolution images of the body and its various functions in real-time and in 3D. They allow doctors to evaluate a wide range of conditions – including brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and a variety of cancers – and provide more accurate diagnoses, targeted treatments and better outcomes for our patients.
Services and Treatments
Each treatment plan is unique, personalized to your cancer type and individual needs. Your care team collaborates with you and discusses your treatment plan in detail, which may include a combination of therapies.
Cellular therapy is a highly personalized treatment that uses your body’s own cells to fight blood disorders. The process takes time and involves careful preparation, but our team is here to provide the support and guidance that you need.
Autologous stem cell transplant is a procedure where healthy stem cells are taken from a patient's blood or bone marrow and preserved before being treated for cancer. After radiation or chemotherapy, the stem cells are then returned to the patient to replace damaged cells, helping to restore healthy blood production and rebuild the immune system.
This procedure allows larger than usual doses of chemotherapy to be given, which often improves the cancer response to treatment.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a highly specialized treatment for blood cancers that is FDA approved to treat certain types of lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma.
Providence’s experienced immunotherapy teams use CAR T-cell therapy to modify a person’s T-cells through a multi-step process, helping them target and attack blood cancers more effectively. This groundbreaking immunotherapy uses your own immune cells to fight cancer, offering new hope for patients who haven’t had success with other blood cancer therapies.
Medical oncology uses systemic therapies that travel through the bloodstream to treat cancer that has spread to other areas of the body or has a high risk of spreading. Sophisticated genetic analysis allows some of these therapies to target specific proteins that are associated with DNA mutations and drive cancer cell growth and/or development.
Adjuvant chemotherapy is treatment given after your main therapy, often surgery, to help destroy any cancer cells that may still be in the body. The goal is to lower the chance of cancer recurrence.
Immunotherapy boosts or restores the body’s natural defenses. Cellular therapies, stem cell transplants and biologic therapies use your own cells to fight disease and support recovery.
Molecularly targeted therapy uses drugs – including oral and intravenous (IV) biologics – to target specific molecules that allow cancer to grow. This therapy enables personalized treatment for patients, especially those who carry certain genetic mutations or abnormalities.
You receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy before your main treatment to help improve outcomes. Starting treatment earlier can sometimes shrink a tumor, make surgery less complex or lower the risk of cancer spreading. For some patients, it may also help reduce long-term side effects or lower the risk of complications, especially if lymph nodes are involved.
Radiation is effective in killing cancer cells and shrinking tumors. It can be used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments.
IMRT and VMAT are advanced types of radiation therapies:
- IMRT uses advanced technology to manipulate the radiation beams to conform to the shape of a tumor.
- VMAT is a subtype of IMRT in which the machine actively delivers radiation beams while moving in an arc around the patient.
The arc-based therapy provided via VMAT delivers high doses of radiation to more focused areas, reducing side effects, toxicity and harm to vital organs and the overall treatment time.
Learn more about intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
SGRT/SIGRT uses real-time beam guidance and surface-recognition technology to target tumors, reducing side effects and harm to vital organs. This therapy can be used in conjunction with IMRT and VMAT to help guide your positioning during treatment and account for any involuntary movement, making it less invasive and potentially more comfortable for you.
3DCRT uses 3D planning and CT imaging to better target tumors and cancerous areas and improve the outcome of radiation treatment. It also limits the damage to healthy tissue, potentially decreasing risks like infection and minimizing side effects.
Learn more about three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT)
Additional therapies may also be part of the treatment plan for a small number of patients.
Interventional radiology is a minimally invasive procedure guided by radiologic imaging. This approach may be used to implant a port or vascular access device to obtain diagnostic material, remove fluid from the chest or abdomen or deliver treatment locally.
Lymphedema therapy addresses the buildup of lymph fluid that can be caused by cancer or cancer treatment.
To improve lymphatic drainage, your care team might use a combination of treatments, including specialized massage, compression therapy – the wrapping of an extremity to apply consistent pressure to the affected area – or the use of mechanical pumps to help fluid circulate.
Patient Resources & Support
Get a second opinion from our world-class cancer experts, so that you can make important decisions about your treatment plan and move forward with confidence. Our web page will walk you through the next steps and let you know how to prepare for your appointment.
Are you looking for a clinical trial, either for yourself or a patient? Currently, Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County is involved in over 100 ongoing clinical trials.
We offer comprehensive support services – including oncology nurse navigators, transportation services and financial counseling – to help you and your loved ones throughout your cancer journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Leukemia and lymphoma are both blood cancers that affect white blood cells, but they originate in different parts of the body.
Leukemia primarily originates in the bone marrow and involves circulating blood. On the other hand, lymphoma doesn’t circulate dominantly in the blood and most often resides in lymph nodes and tissues.
Blood cancers often require a combination of approaches to achieve the best outcome, so it’s likely your care plan could include more than one type of treatment.
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, molecularly targeted therapy or cellular therapy may be needed to target cancer cells throughout the body, reduce the risk of recurrence or improve the overall effectiveness of your treatment.
Some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can affect fertility. These effects could be short-term, but there is a chance that you might experience them permanently.
If you're concerned about fertility, please talk to your care team about options and discuss the potential impacts of your specific treatment plan. They may be able to connect you with fertility preservation resources so that you can make informed decisions about the future.
Before you start cellular therapy, you’ll need to be tested and evaluated to see if this course of treatment is right for you. The tests might include lab work, imaging or procedures like stem cell collection, a bone marrow biopsy or central line placement.
Then, several days prior, you may receive chemotherapy or immunotherapy. This helps prepare you for cellular therapy, enhancing your own body’s immune response and reducing the number of cancer cells.
Cellular therapy infusion is an outpatient procedure.
A small IV is placed into your vein or central line, then you receive the infusion of specially prepared cells over the course of an hour. You may start to experience side effects like chills or a fever as your immune system responds. Post-infusion, you'll continue to be closely monitored, so we can help manage any side effects.
Some reactions – like cytokine release syndrome (CRS) after CAR T-cell therapy – are rare but can be severe and require prompt medical attention.
The Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County is made up of three nationally accredited programs:
- Leonard Cancer Institute at Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo
- Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment at Providence St. Joseph Hospital, Orange
- Crosson Cancer Institute at Providence St. Jude Medical Center, Fullerton
With locations throughout Orange County, you will always have access to leading-edge care close to home.
Yes, our support services at Providence include financial navigation to help ease your way through financial concerns and barriers.
Our staff can help you:
- Evaluate insurance health plans to ensure the right choices are made for your care
- Leverage available programs and services, such as co-pay assistance and patient assistance programs to help reduce financial barriers
- Optimize external assistance programs, such as patient financial support programs
Your oncology nurse navigator can refer you to a social worker, who can connect you with financial support as needed.
An oncology nurse navigator is a nurse or registered clinician who personally guides you from diagnosis through survivorship. They are your advocate, here to provide support and reassurance tailored to your needs – whether that's occasional conversations or daily check-ins.
Your navigator can coordinate your appointments, speak directly with your primary care physician, provide support to lower your stress, talk to your loved ones and help you access all the resources that you need.