Urgent care vs. the ER: How to know where to go
June 11, 2026
Visit the ER for serious illness or injuries when you need emergency care. Visit urgent care for minor injuries or illnesses that need same-day care.
Blood cancer and blood disorders
Get the care you need at Ascension Wisconsin from experienced medical oncologists-hematologists.
Advanced care for blood cancer and blood disorders in Wisconsin
Get the care you need at Ascension Wisconsin from experienced medical oncologists-hematologists
Blood cancer care at Ascension Wisconsin
When you choose Ascension Wisconsin for oncology and blood cancer care, you get a team of experienced cancer doctors, including hematologists and medical oncologists, working with you.
Our care teams share best practices and the latest in blood cancer and blood disorder treatments and leukemia research — bringing the best of cancer care to you. 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.
Understanding blood cancer
Blood cancer is a type of cancer that affects your blood, bone marrow or lymphatic system. These are the parts of your body responsible for producing and transporting blood cells throughout your body. When you have blood cancer, infected blood cells grow rapidly and crowd your healthy cells. This disrupts your body’s ability to fight infection, carry oxygen and stop bleeding.
Cancer doctors at Ascension Wisconsin specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of blood cancers and blood disorders.
Blood cancers we treat
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
Blood disorders we treat
Our hematology-oncology specialists specialize in diagnosis and treating noncancerous blood disorders in adults and teens, including:
- Anemia and abnormal white blood and platelet counts like immune thrombocytopenia
- Blood clot conditions, such as hemophilia
- Myelodysplastic syndrome, a pre-leukemia condition
- Myeloproliferative disorders, a disease of the bone marrow and blood
- Von Willebrand disease, an inherited bleeding disorder that causes abnormal bleeding after an injury, surgery or during menstrual periods
Symptoms of blood cancers and disorders
Common symptoms of blood cancers and disorders include:
- Bone or joint pain
- Bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual cycles or bruises without clear cause)
- Fatigue
- Fever, infections or night sweats
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Painless swelling in the neck, armpits or groin
- Weight loss
How is blood cancer diagnosed?
At Ascension Wisconsin, you’ll have access to the latest diagnostic testing options for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood conditions. Your care team works together to deliver blood tests, imaging and other specialized testing to diagnose and monitor blood cancer and blood disorders. Your doctor may recommend:
A blood test is a lab analysis of things that may be found in your blood. You may have blood tests to check for biomarkers and to keep track of how well you are managing your condition. You may also have them for routine checkups or when you are ill.
Sometimes a bone marrow biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis.This diagnostic procedure is used to collect a small sample of bone marrow to evaluate for conditions such as blood disorders or cancer. This test provides precise information that helps our specialists confirm a diagnosis and guide personalized treatment planning.
If you are high-risk or have a family history of cancer, we provide genetic screening, testing and counseling to help you and your doctor better understand your risk for developing cancer.
Genomic profiling helps your care team better understand the unique genetic makeup of your blood cancer. By identifying specific mutations and biomarkers, Ascension Wisconsin blood cancer specialists can personalize your treatment plan and match you with targeted therapies designed for your type of cancer. This advanced testing may also help predict how your cancer could respond to treatment, giving you and your care team more information to guide your care.
Imaging tests help your care team diagnose blood cancers and blood disorders, evaluate how disease may be affecting your body and monitor your response to treatment. Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend imaging such as CT scans, PET scans, MRI, ultrasound or X-rays. These tests provide detailed images that help your specialists identify enlarged lymph nodes, bone marrow changes or other signs of disease to guide your personalized care plan.
How we treat blood disorders at Ascension Wisconsin
Our experienced specialists offer advanced treatment options for later-stage blood cancer in adults. Several forms of radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be recommended as part of your care plan for blood cancer.
If infusion therapy is recommended as part of your treatment plan for blood cancer or a blood disorder, you’lll receive intravenous (IV) therapy from a team of highly trained nurses and Ascension Rx pharmacists. Chemotherapy and other medications and fluids can be delivered by IV at our infusion centers, through a portable infusion pump or at home by a home health care team (see Ascension at Home).
Your care team pays close attention to how you’re feeling and helps you manage symptoms between treatments. Before each treatment session, your oncologist checks your bloodwork so your medications can be tailored to your current condition and your overall care plan.
Using advanced imaging guidance, our specialists perform targeted treatments such as biopsies, vascular access placement and other procedures that help manage disease and support cancer therapies.
Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups and spiritual care. At Ascension Wisconsin cancer centers, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and their loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you.
Clinical trials
Cancer research and clinical trials can give you access to new treatments, often before they become widely available.Talk to your oncologist if you’re interested in participating in clinical trials.
How to get care
First, you'll meet with an oncologist and care team to discuss your diagnosis and care options. During your ongoing care, your care team at Ascension Wisconsin helps you schedule appointments, connect with other services and support groups, and answer your questions.
From your first consultation throughout your ongoing care, you and your doctor will stay connected through in-person and virtual visits. You'll be able to talk with your doctor one on one via video from your phone or computer.
Get a second opinion
Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension Wisconsin. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options.
Financial assistance
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.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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