Overview
Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center is dedicated to providing exceptional care and support to individuals with cancer. Today, the prognosis for many patients with leukemia, myeloid disorders (including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs)), or bone marrow failure conditions (such as aplastic anemia, large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGL), or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)) is very good.
While you have many available treatment options to choose from, you should consider the experience of the program when selecting where to seek care. Our Leukemia and Myeloid Disorders Program offers specialized testing to uncover the genetics of each diagnosis and tailor treatments specifically to you. At any given time, we have dozens of clinical trials open to treat these specific disorders as well as a dedicated team of over 20 doctors and nurses who specialize in these diseases, and a dedicated inpatient unit. We work collaboratively with many regional cancer sites as well to deliver care that is convenient for you. Cleveland Clinic is recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care.
Cleveland Clinic’s Leukemia and Myeloid Disorders Program is one of the largest and best respected in the world, with over 1000 scientific publications among its members, some of which have set the standards for care. Specialists in Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center explore all options, including the latest clinical trials, and tailor the most appropriate treatment plan for each patient — offering the greatest chance of curing the condition and living a long and healthy life.
A Team Approach
Each patient in the Leukemia and Myeloid Disorders Program has a dedicated team of doctors and nurses who stays with you throughout your journey, some of whom have helped to write the national guidelines for care of these disorders. The team meets weekly to discuss each patient’s care plan, progress and make decisions, such as whether to recommend bone marrow transplantation. We offer special services including blood product transfusion and work closely with the CAR-T and stem cell transplant teams to find the right treatment for you. This means everyone treated at Cleveland Clinic receives the input of the entire team.
Additionally, we have a clinic dedicated to the treatment of rare blood cancers – one of the only dedicated clinics of this type in the country. We also offer a SurvivorCHIP clinic that focuses on following and managing certain genetic conditions before they present as a myeloid disorder.
We will take into consideration your goals and your desire for quality of life as well as length of life. You can be assured you will receive the most advanced, most patient-friendly treatment possible.
Pediatric patients with Leukemia are treated in Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hematology & Oncology program.
What We Treat
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
- Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
- Aplastic Anemia.
- Atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML).
- Autoimmune neutropenia.
- Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN).
- Castleman’s disease.
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
- Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).
- Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL).
- Eosinophilic leukemia.
- Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).
- Leukemia.
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS).
- Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (Essential Thrombocythemia, Polycythemia Vera, Myelofibrosis).
- Large Granular Lymphocytic (LGL) Leukemia.
- Pure red cell aplasia.
- Systemic mastocytosis.
- Pediatric patients with Leukemia are treated in Cleveland Clinic Children's.
Treatment options for leukemia
- Blood and marrow transplantation (BMT).
- Cellular therapy or CAR-T Cell Therapy (also adoptive cellular therapy).
- Chemotherapy.
- Immunotherapy.
- Radiation therapy.
- Targeted therapy.
- Watchful waiting (If you have a chronic form of leukemia and no symptoms, treatment may not be necessary. Your doctor will watch your condition closely.)
Treatment options for MDS
- Blood and marrow transplantation (BMT).
- Chemotherapy.
- Growth factor therapy with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs).
- Immunosuppressive therapy.
- Supportive Care – May include blood or platelet transfusions.
- Targeted therapy.
- Watchful waiting (If you have lower-risk form of MDS and no symptoms, treatment may not be necessary. Your doctor will watch your condition closely.)
Treatment options for MPN
- Blood and marrow transplantation (BMT).
- Chemotherapy.
- Growth factor therapy with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs).
- Immunosuppressive therapy.
- Supportive Care – May include blood or platelet transfusions.
- Targeted therapy.
- Watchful waiting (If you have lower-risk form of MDS and no symptoms, treatment may not be necessary. Your doctor will watch your condition closely.)
Our Doctors
Resources
Treatment guides
Patient stories
Hear the inspiring stories of real Cleveland Clinic patients fighting Leukemia.
- Dad Went to Doctor for a Bad Bug Bite, the Diagnosis Was Leukemia.
- Ashland University Coach on Track in His Battle to Overcome Leukemia.
- Leukemia Patient Meets Bone Marrow Donor Who Saved Her Life.
Health Essentials
Find helpful posts about Leukemia from Cleveland Clinic’s Health Essentials site.
- Are Leukemia and Lymphoma the Same Thing?
- The Truth About Leukemia in Older Adults: It’s Still Treatable.
- How to care for a Loved One with Leukemia.
- Why Leukemia Happens: Could it Run In Your Family?
Podcasts
Listen to episodes from Cleveland Clinic’s Health Essentials podcast about Leukemia.
Advocacy groups
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
- Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AAMDS).
- Board Members include Dr. Jaroslaw Maciejewski.
- MDS Foundation.
- Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center has been designated an MDS Foundation Center of Excellence.
- American Society of Hematology.
- Board Members include: Dr. Anjali Advani, Dr. Hetty Carraway, Dr. Aaron Gerds, Dr. Jaroslaw Maciejewski, Dr. Sudipto Mukherjee.
Support & Services
Patient services
In addition to offering state of the art diagnostic techniques and treatment methods, our leukemia specialists offer an array of resources that can help patients cope with the demands of cancer. Patients are encouraged to take advantage of these resources to ease the burden of managing cancer.
Facilities second to none
If you have leukemia, a myeloid disorder, or need a bone marrow transplant, there’s a chance you will need to spend four to six weeks in the hospital. We make every effort to make our hospital feel like your home away from home, so the experience will be as comfortable as possible.
Our two dedicated 22-bed units were designed to meet the unique clinical and emotional needs of leukemia, myeloid disorder and bone marrow transplant patients. Large, private rooms feature pull-out beds for family members, wireless Internet, flat screen TVs with built-in DVD players and expansive windows.
The units include amenities such as computers, an exercise room, a washer and dryer, kitchen and lounge areas. The special floor is not only more comfortable, it also is equipped to ensure the best patient care. The contained unit has the latest air handling system to minimize infection in patients whose immune systems are not functioning at their best. The system continually filters the air on the floor, removing 99.98 percent of potential pollutants.
Why a lab's experience matters
The most appropriate treatment for any form of leukemia or myeloid disorder depends on an accurate diagnosis. You can rely on the internationally renowned Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center laboratory, whose team of eight pathologists is dedicated to diseases of the blood and bone marrow. Their experience and expertise enables them to provide unprecedented accuracy.
All patients also benefit from an automatic expert second opinion. Consider these facts:
- Our pathologists find abnormalities indicating a blood or bone-marrow disease in 30 percent more patients than other labs.
- Our hematopathologists use advanced diagnostic capabilities to provide the most accurate and precise diagnostic information to our hematologists, allowing them to create the best possible treatment plans.
Clinical Trials & Research
Cleveland Clinic is one of the world’s leading leukemia and myeloid disorders clinical trial centers, with over 250 patients participating in clinical trials annually. Many clinical trials of new treatments or combinations of treatments are available for patients.
If your Cleveland Clinic hematologist/oncologist feels you might benefit from participating in a clinical trial, the options will be discussed with you in detail.
Medical Professionals
Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center is committed to working with you to provide the best care for your patients. Our team is also dedicated to the training and education of medical professionals to advance cancer care and research.
Make an online referral
To make a direct online referral to Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, complete our Online Cancer Patient Referral Form or visit clevelandclinic.org/cancerpatientreferrals.
You will receive confirmation once the appointment is scheduled.
Cancer Advances podcast
A Cleveland Clinic podcast for medical professionals exploring the latest innovative research and clinical advances in the field of oncology. Listen to Cancer Advances.
Consult QD | Cancer
Our cancer care blog for physicians and healthcare professionals. Discover emerging advances, innovations and research insights from Cleveland Clinic Cancer Care specialists. Explore Consult QD.
