Hemato Oncology

Diagnosis and treatment of blood-related cancers including lymphomas and leukemias.

Haemato-Oncology focuses on cancers and serious disorders affecting blood, bone marrow, and the lymphatic system. These include leukemia (acute & chronic), lymphomas (Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin), multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anaemia, and related marrow failure states. In these conditions, abnormal blood-forming cells multiply or function poorly, weakening immunity, oxygen delivery, and clotting.

Symptoms

• Persistent fatigue or weakness not explained by routine stress.
• Recurrent or unusual infections.
• Unexplained fevers, night sweats, or chills.
• Easy bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, or prolonged bleeding after minor cuts.
• Enlarged lymph nodes (neck, armpit, groin).
• Bone pain, especially in back, ribs, or hips (seen in myeloma).
• Unintentional weight loss or appetite drop.
• Pale skin, shortness of breath on exertion (due to anaemia).

Diagnosis

Dr. Joshi follows a structured pathway to avoid delays and misclassification:

• Clinical evaluation – history, physical exam, symptom duration, prior infections, drug exposure.
• Laboratory tests – Complete blood count (CBC) with differential, peripheral smear review.
• Bone marrow aspiration & biopsy – gold standard for leukaemia, myeloma, marrow failure.
• Flow cytometry – identifies abnormal cell populations.
• Cytogenetics / FISH / Molecular testing – detects genetic mutations guiding targeted therapy.
• Imaging – PET-CT, CT scans, or MRI for staging (lymphoma spread, marrow involvement).
• Baseline organ function – liver, kidney, heart assessments before chemo or transplant.

Treatment

Treatment is individualized by cancer type, genetic markers, patient age, organ function, and goals of care. Options include:

• Chemotherapy protocols (e.g., ABVD for Hodgkin lymphoma; CHOP-like regimens; AML induction chemo).
• Targeted therapy based on genetic drivers (e.g., tyrosine kinase inhibitors in certain leukaemias).
• Immunotherapy & monoclonal antibodies (e.g., rituximab-based combinations in B-cell lymphomas).
• Supportive transfusion care – red cells, platelets, growth factors.
• Bone Marrow / Stem Cell Transplant referral & co-management when indicated.
• Long-term survivorship monitoring – relapse surveillance, vaccination guidance, late-effect care.

When to See a Specialist

If routine blood tests keep showing low counts, if lymph nodes stay enlarged, or if symptoms are unexplained after basic treatment, don’t wait. Early evaluation improves outcomes.