The Leukemia Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute (NHCI) provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art facilities and treatment services for adult patients with acute and chronic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood-related cancers.
For patients with some forms of leukemia or other blood cancers, a blood or bone marrow transplant may be part of their treatment plan. One of the many benefits of our Leukemia Program is that we offer early access and a seamless transition to our nationally recognized Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program.
Leukemia is a cancer of your blood cells. Blood cells are produced in your bone marrow, which is the soft interior of your bones. Normally, blood cells are made in an orderly, controlled way. When leukemia develops, blood cells do not develop normally resulting in an overproduction of immature cells, which then fill up the space in the bone marrow. As a result, normal blood cells that are responsible for fighting infections and preventing bleeding are under produced.
The term leukemia means white blood. White blood cells (leukocytes) are used by the body to fight infections and other foreign substances. Leukocytes are made in the bone marrow.
Leukemia leads to an uncontrolled increase in the number of white blood cells. The cancerous cells prevent healthy red cells, platelets, and mature white cells (leukocytes) from being made. Life-threatening symptoms can then develop as normal blood cells decline.
Leukemia is divided into two major types:
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There are many different types of leukemia and the symptoms vary depending on the type. Some common leukemia symptoms include:
In adults, leukemia occurs most often in people older than 55. The following risk factors may play a role in the development of all types of leukemia:
Additional risk factors for developing acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) include:
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults. Some additional risk factors that may lead to AML include:
There are only a few known risk factors for developing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) which include:
A risk factor associated with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is exposure to high levels of radiation.
As part of our comprehensive approach to cancer prevention and education, Northside offers Built To Quit, a smoking and tobacco cessation program offering resources to help individuals quit smoking and stop using other tobacco products. For additional information please call 404-780-7653 or email smokingcessation@northside.com or click on the button below to register online for an upcoming class.
Doctors may find chronic leukemia in a routine blood test, before symptoms begin. If this happens, or if you have signs or symptoms that suggest leukemia, you may undergo the following diagnostic exams:
Northside Hospital Cancer Institute provides care and support for all types of leukemia:
The strength of NHCI Leukemia Program is our leukemia specialists and clinical support staff who collaborate to provide individualized care for each patient. NHCI’s Leukemia Program offers a comprehensive scope of medical services, the latest technology, leading-edge clinical research and compassionate support.
Our physicians are among the most experienced in the country, treating more than 100 newly diagnosed leukemia patients each year. Team members are committed to providing comprehensive care in a compassionate setting.
Our leukemia team of experts includes:
A patient’s individualized Leukemia Treatment plan is determined after a prospective discussion among a team of leukemia specialists working together to cure the disease. Interdisciplinary team meetings are held weekly to review treatment plans and the responses to treatment for all new and current leukemia patients. This innovative meeting uses an interactive approach where hematopathologists, clinical pathologists, leukemia physicians, scientists from our flow cytometry/molecular diagnostic laboratory, advanced practice providers, health psychologist, nurses and ancillary support staff complete an in-depth review of each case.
For questions about our team of leukemia specialists, call 404-255-1930
Treatment options for our leukemia patients include both standard of care treatments or may include clinical research trials. Research is a major component of Northside’s Leukemia Program. We believe leukemia patients should have access to state-of-the-art and novel clinical research trials to ensure the best possible survival outcomes.
For patients with some forms of leukemia, a stem cell transplant may be part of their treatment plan. Northside’s Leukemia Program offers early access to treatment options and a seamless transition to our nationally recognized Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, the only adult BMT Program in Georgia to achieve survival rates that significantly exceeded the expected survival rate for allogeneic transplants for the last 12 consecutive reporting cycles (2009-20).
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For questions about treatment options for leukemia patients at Northside call 404-255-1930
The Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at Northside Hospital is one of the most qualified and experienced transplant centers in the United States.
There are three main types of blood and marrow transplants:
In 2022, Northside Hospital had among the best allogeneic transplant survival outcomes in the United States for the 14th consecutive year (2009-22), per data released by Be The Match® and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research 1. Northside Hospital was also the only center in the country (out of 175) in 2022 to maintain outcomes in the “above expected” range for 14 consecutive reporting years.
The BMT Program at Northside Hospital is one of the largest clinical transplant programs in the United States, serving patients undergoing bone marrow and stem cell transplant therapy and providing primary leukemia treatment options.
The BMT Program at Northside Hospital meets the criteria of “an excellent transplant center” per guidelines established by the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the Foundation for Cellular Therapy and the National Marrow Donor Program. These are the three BMT governing organizations that provide patients and family members with detailed information on how to identify an excellent transplant center through outstanding survival outcomes, experienced and highly-trained staff, comprehensive quality management program and state-of-the-art facilities.
Learn more about The Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute.
For more information or to refer a patient to the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at NHCI, please call 404-255-1930.
A former leukemia and bone marrow transplant patient had the opportunity of a lifetime - to meet the woman who saved her life.
Ongoing support is crucial when facing leukemia. Northside Hospital Cancer Institute provides a full range of leukemia support and survivorship programs and services to address the unique needs of leukemia patients.
Leukemia treatment and recovery can be overwhelming. The Leukemia Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute has leukemia nurse coordinators, with extensive knowledge and training in oncology and leukemia, to help guide patients through treatment and education and help patients make informed decisions.
Our leukemia nurse coordinators work with hematopathology, clinical laboratories, pathologists, flow cytometry/molecular laboratories, referring oncologists, blood and marrow transplant coordinators for HLA typing and early donor identification, and other specialists to coordinate each patient’s treatment plan from diagnosis to remission/cure.
Support provided by leukemia nurse coordinators includes:
For questions about support options for leukemia patients at Northside, call 404-255-1930
