Leukemia is a blood cancer that primarily affects white blood cells. The cancer originates in the bone marrow and other tissues that produce blood. As cancerous white blood cells grow, they suppress your natural infection-fighting function of your healthy white blood cells.

Lymphomas are cancers that affect blood cells called lymphocytes, which protect your body from infections and control inflammation. Lymphocytes can build in your bloodstream, bone marrow and organs, but most commonly affect the lymph nodes located throughout your body.

There are dozens of subtypes of lymphoma, so having a physician who specializes in this cancer type can help you receive better care.

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood that transports red and white blood cells. Healthy plasma cells help your body fight infections. When you have myeloma or plasma cell disease, cancer cells crowd out healthy cells in your plasma.

Amyloidosis is a rare disease caused by abnormal protein deposits that get into your organs and interfere with their normal function. With over 30 different proteins that can lead to amyloidosis, it’s essential that you quickly identify the source so you can begin treatment as soon as possible.

Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) can occur when abnormal stem cells in your bone marrow cause your body to overproduce red blood cells, white blood cells and/or platelets. More than 250,000 people in the U.S. are estimated to be living with an MPN, diagnosed as essential thrombocythemia, myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera or chronic myeloid leukemia.

Chemotherapy uses drugs that target and disable a cancer cell's ability to grow or survive. These drugs are usually prescribed in various doses over a set time. Your oncologist may schedule additional treatments to get the desired results.

Radiation therapy is used to alter the DNA of cancer cells. It may also be used prior to a stem cell transplant or to relieve pain.

Immunotherapy activates the body's immune system to fight cancer by using donor- or lab-created antibodies to identify and destroy abnormal cells. These may include:

• CAR-T Cell ­Therapy: alteration of a your T cells so they can attach to cancerous cells
• Cytokine: infusion of natural and artificially produced hormones
• Donor lymphocyte infusion: infusion of lymphocytes from a stem cell donor
• Monoclonal antibodies: infusion of artificial antibodies targeting specific cellular markers
• Radioimmunotherapy: a combination of radiation therapy with monoclonal antibodies
• NK cells: a subset of the immune system cells that may directly fight the cancer

Cancer impacts the ability of bone marrow to produce healthy cells. Hematopoietic stem cell transplants help the body resume the production of healthy blood cells. Transplanting stem cells restores bone marrow damaged or destroyed by cancer. In some cases, it may provide you with a new immune system to fight the cancer.

During this nonsurgical procedure, red cells or plasma is removed and replaced by healthy red blood cells or plasma from a donor. The procedure is also called apheresis.