How bariatric surgery restored a Rutherford mom's life
August 5, 2026
After years of struggling, Rutherford resident Larina lost over 200 pounds following bariatric surgery with Dr. Stephen Rich at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford.
Blood cancer care
Get the care you need at Ascension Saint Thomas Cancer Care in Nashville, TN, from experienced medical oncologists-hematologists.
Advanced care for blood cancer and blood disorders in Tennessee
Get the care you need from experienced medical oncologists-hematologists at Ascension Saint Thomas Cancer Care in Nashville
Understanding blood cancer and blood disorders
When you choose Ascension Saint Thomas Cancer Care in Nashville, you get a team of experienced, compassionate doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating blood cancers and blood disorders. Our care teams share best practices and the latest advances in cancer treatment and research — bringing advanced cancer care close to home.
Every appointment with your hematology-oncology team starts with a conversation focused on you. Your doctor takes time to answer your questions, understand your needs and get to know you in order to create a personalized cancer care plan. And with a plan, comes hope. We help you navigate your care at every step, connecting you with the services and support you need. Our goal is to help you get back to your everyday life, sooner.
Types of blood cancer and blood disorders
Your doctor and care team explain your diagnosis and help you understand how your care plan is personalized for your condition. The most common types of blood cancer in adults include:
- Leukemia: A term for many types of blood and blood tissue cancers that stem from your body having issues making healthy blood cells
- Lymphoma: Cancer that affects your immune system and lymphatic system, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma: Cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow, which are a type of white blood cell
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS): Also known as pre-leukemia, a blood disorder in which blood cells don’t work properly. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 cases can develop into cancer of the bone marrow, or acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
- Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN): Chronic blood cancers that begin in the bone marrow and may progress over time
Our hematology-oncology specialists also diagnose and treat noncancerous blood disorders, including:
- Anemia: Low levels of iron in the blood
- Hemophilia: An inherited disorder that causes blood clotting problems
- Immune thrombocytopenia: A low platelet count disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot as it should
- Von Willebrand disease: An inherited bleeding disorder that causes abnormal bleeding after an injury, surgery or during menstrual periods
Infusion therapy
Because blood cancer treatments require precise handling and monitoring, our infusion therapies are administered within our specialized centers. Our priority is your safety and the effectiveness of your treatment.
- Your infusions are managed by oncology-certified nurses and pharmacists who specialize in hematologic medications.
- We have designed our infusion centers to be as relaxing as possible, understanding that treatment days can be long.
Support for the whole you
We believe that healing involves more than just medicine. To help you feel your best during and after treatment, we offer a comprehensive Cancer Wellness Program designed to empower your recovery.
This program is more than just a class, it is a toolkit for your well-being, offering:
- Gentle movement: Exercise plans tailored to your energy levels to help reduce fatigue.
- Nutrition for healing: Guidance on foods that fuel your body and boost immunity.
- Stress reduction: Techniques to help you find calm and improve your mental resilience.
- Community connection: A space to connect with others who understand your journey.
- Community partnerships and resources: Gilda's Club, Heimerdinger Foundation, American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
Additional support services:
- Financial counseling: We help you navigate insurance and find assistance programs to ease the financial burden. Call 615-284-5340.
- Genetic counseling: Screening and testing for those with a high risk or family history of cancer.
- On-site services and amenities: A range of services available to make your time with us more comfortable and convenient such as: dining, coffee shop, gift shop, language assistance, postal services. Ask your care team for more information.
- Lodging options: The Seton Lodge, located on our Saint Thomas West campus, offers a comfortable place to stay for patients and families. Call 615-222-3872 to inquire.
- Spiritual and emotional care: Access to chapels, healing gardens, and support groups for you and your family.
Connect with a specialist today. Whether you need a diagnosis, a second opinion, or a comprehensive treatment plan, we are here to help. Call 615-986-7600.
How we diagnose blood cancer and blood disorders
Across our national network, you have access to the latest diagnostic testing and treatment options for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood conditions. Your care team works together to provide blood tests, imaging and other specialized testing to diagnose and monitor blood cancer and blood disorders. Your doctor may recommend:
A blood clotting test helps diagnose bleeding and clotting disorders.
A bone marrow aspiration or biopsy collects a small sample of bone marrow fluid or tissue, often from the back of the hipbone. The sample is checked for the number, size and maturity of blood cells, as well as abnormal cells.
A complete blood count is a blood test used to evaluate your overall health and help detect conditions such as anemia, infection and leukemia.
A CBC with white cell differential measures different types of white blood cells and can help evaluate infection, inflammation and some blood disorders.
This test examines chromosomes to identify genetic changes in blood or bone marrow cells.
Blood tests can provide important information about your health and may help confirm or rule out certain blood disorders or cancers.
Genetic testing may help you and your doctor better understand your risk for certain cancers. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, your doctor may recommend genetic pathology testing to identify changes in cancer cells or tumor growth that may affect treatment decisions.
A lymph node biopsy removes a small sample of tissue to test for cancer cells. A biopsy is often the only way to confirm lymphoma.
MRD testing can identify the presence of very small numbers of cancer cells that remain after treatment, even when they aren’t visible through standard testing.
Molecular profiling identifies biomarkers that may help predict how a cancer will respond to certain treatments.
How we treat blood cancer at Ascension Saint Thomas
Your doctor will create a personalized care plan based on your diagnosis, stage, symptoms and overall health. Your treatment for blood cancer and blood disorders may include medication, therapy or surgery:
A bone marrow transplant (BMT) replaces unhealthy bone marrow with healthy stem cells. These cells may come from your own body or a donor, depending on your condition and treatment plan
CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that uses your own T cells, which are modified in a lab to better recognize and attack cancer cells before being returned to your body.
Chemotherapy (often shortened to “chemo”) is a drug-based treatment used to slow the growth of or shrink tumors. Chemo can be given through an IV or taken in pill form, and be given before or after surgery, or along with radiation therapy.
Tennessee Oncology’s Greco Hainsworth Centers for Research is dedicated to improving care through clinical trials that give patients access to promising new therapies, including CAR-T cell therapy.
Cancer research and clinical trials can give you access to new treatments, often before they become widely available. Talk to your doctor to learn whether cancer clinical trials are the right option for you.
This type of radiation therapy uses a machine to deliver targeted radiation to cancer cells.
Gene mutation–directed chemo-biotherapy is a personalized cancer treatment approach that uses information about a tumor’s genetic mutations to help choose the most effective chemotherapy and biologic therapy options.
Our experienced specialists and care team provide medications and fluids while also focusing on your nutrition, comfort, and social and emotional needs.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing
A stem cell transplant uses healthy stem cells to replace bone marrow damaged by cancer or high-dose treatment.
Support programs and resources: Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups, yoga and spiritual care. At Ascension Saint Thomas sites of care, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and their loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you.
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that boosts your body’s immune system to help it recognize and attack cancer cells. It uses substances that are either made in the body or in a lab to shrink tumors or slow tumor growth.
A multidisciplinary team on your side
Your care plan is managed by a team of experts who communicate constantly about your progress. In addition to your oncologist, your team includes:
- Oncology dietitians: Experts to help manage nutrition and strength during treatment
- Patient navigators: Dedicated staff to help you schedule appointments and connect you with support services
- Psychologists: To support mental health needs
- Radiation oncologists: Using advanced therapy to target cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue
- Specialized nurses: Chemotherapy-certified nurses who manage your treatments with care
Get a second opinion on your cancer diagnosis or care plan
When you are facing a new cancer diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. Our blood cancer specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national team.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
Frequently asked questions about our blood cancer care services
Your doctor and care team get to know you well, and you’ll receive care for the whole person — from physical health and well-being to mental and emotional health. At Ascension Saint Thomas, we provide innovative medication treatments, the latest surgical technologies and techniques, high-tech radiation facilities and support services. When you choose Ascension Saint Thomas, you get a national team of experienced cancer specialists, sharing best practices and the latest in cancer care knowledge and research.
We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs. Your cancer care team can connect you to a financial counselor.
At Ascension Saint Thomas cancer center and clinics, we offer convenient parking. Talk to your care team if you have transportation needs.
Surgical oncologists and anesthesiologists provide enhanced recovery pathways as part of your surgical care plan. They are an important part of our cancer treatment programs. Each pathway is personalized for different types of cancer treatment, to help speed up your recovery after surgery. Your care team uses these protocols to help you prepare for what to expect before, during and after surgery.
Featured locations
Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown Cancer Center
2004 Hayes St.
Nashville, TN 37203
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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