Treatment

A diagnosis of blood or marrow cancer can feel both scary and overwhelming. But at CHI Saint Joseph Health, we combine compassionate care with the most advanced technology available to help you fight the condition with confidence.

Each of our cancer centers across Kentucky is staffed by some of the region’s leading cancer specialists. Together, this dedicated team—which may include hematologists and radiation oncologists, surgeons, highly trained nurses, therapists and more—will work with you to create the best possible treatment plan.

We focus on caring for the whole you—mind, body and spirit—and offer access to a range of cancer support services and  clinical trials.

Learn more about our treatment options below. Then call 844.303.9355 to request a referral to one of our caring specialists or find a cancer specialist anytime online.

Types of Treatment We Offer

Treatment of blood and marrow cancer depends on many factors, including the type of cancer (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma or another condition), the stage of the cancer (early or advanced), your overall health and wellness and your personal feelings around certain treatments and possible side effects. Our goal is keep you feeling well throughout treatment without major changes to your usual routine.

Your personal treatment plan may include one or a combination of:

Surgery

Surgery may be performed to remove small single tumors, but it is rarely used as a form of treatment.

Chemotherapy 

Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells with medicines delivered in varied cycles through either an IV or a pill. It may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, to kill cancer cells that remain in the body after surgery or radiation or to treat tumors that have developed in other areas. Whenever possible, CHI Saint Joseph Health uses newer medications that help minimize the side effects of chemotherapy.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy has different indications for Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma.

Targeted Therapy

Typically used for people with advanced cancer, targeted drug therapy works to block specific genes and proteins that allow cancer cells to grow, while limiting damage to healthy cells.

Immunotherapy

Some patients with advanced blood and marrow cancer may benefit from immunotherapy, which uses medicines to help a person’s own immune system find and destroy cancer cells.

Bone Marrow Transplants

In some cases, a bone marrow transplant (also called a stem cell transplant) is an option. The procedure is used to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells, which are immature cells in the bone marrow that give rise to all of your blood cells. A bone marrow transplant replaces bone marrow that either is not working properly or has been destroyed by chemotherapy or radiation.