When something as vital as blood is deficient, the uncertainty about how best to treat it can be overwhelming. A blood disorder can affect total health. When you’re facing a blood disorder, the Hematologist at Cochise Oncology is there to treat every aspect of your blood health.
Your blood does much more than simply carry oxygen throughout your body. It’s a complex component of overall health with many different functions.
Blood transports oxygen and nutrients to all our tissues and carries waste products to the liver and kidneys for filtration and cleansing. Body temperature regulation is also a vital function of our blood.
When an injury occurs, blood rushes in to supply vital nutrients and growth factors for healing, as well as amassing white blood cells to prevent or limit any infection that may develop. White blood cells also protect us from diseases or infections not caused by injuries. Clots form to prevent excessive blood loss and keep bacteria out for a greater chance of a speedy recovery. The average human has between 9-12 pints of overall blood volume.
When blood can’t perform all its functions, blood disorders occur. Some of the disorders a Hematologist will treat are:
Anemia – Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein essential to the oxygen transport through the body. When not enough red blood cells exist or existing cells malfunction, this results in low hemoglobin levels. Common symptoms are:
Bleeding disorders – These occur when the platelets and clotting factors in blood underperform, as with hemophilia. When a blood vessel is injured, not enough clotting leads to excessive bleeding, which can be life-threatening. Failure to clot properly can happen both internally and externally.
Blood clots – Platelets and clotting factors gather together to plug injuries to blood vessels to prevent blood loss. Too much clotting and these clusters of platelets may break away and lodge elsewhere in the body (commonly the heart and lungs) to block adequate blood flow. This is a serious, sometimes fatal condition.
Blood cancers – Cancers of the blood generally affect the production and function of your blood cells. Blood originates in bone marrow, where stem cells produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood cancer occurs when abnormal cells are produced and interfere with normal blood function. Common blood cancers are:
A Hematologist is the internal medicine specialist who most commonly treats disorders of the blood and lymphatic system. Cochise Oncology’s Hematologist, Dr. Stephen Goldfarb, will work in tandem with your whole care team to build the best course of treatment for your specific condition.
Treatment typically involves a complete blood count to diagnose and monitor your blood cell characteristics, monitoring clotting disorders and how the treatments are improving them, any necessary transfusions, and chemotherapy for blood cancers. In some cases, a bone marrow transplant is required to reset the healthy production of blood cells and plasma.
At Cochise Oncology, we’ve gathered a team of specialists capable of elevating patient care to a superior standard, including Dr. Stephen Goldfarb. With incredible technology and focused patient care, your treatment is as comfortable as we can make it.
*Individual Results May Vary
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