What Is Hematology Oncology? (2024)

Hematology oncology is the field of blood disorders and cancer. Hematology concerns blood, blood disorders, and bone marrow disease, while oncology is the study of cancer. Also referred to as hematology/oncology, or heme/onc, this field is focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system cancers.

The field of hematology/oncology can involve many subspecialties as there are a variety of cancers and other blood disorders which exist. This article will review what hematology oncology involves, as well as who works in the field and what they treat.

What Is Hematology Oncology? (1)

Difference Between Hematology and Oncology

Although they are often paired, the fields of hematology and oncology can be two separate entities. Hematology involves the study of blood and diseases and disorders of the blood and bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside bones that produces blood cells).

Many blood diseases are cancerous, but there are also benign (noncancerous) blood disorders as well. Noncancerous blood disorders can include:

  • Red blood cell disorders such as anemia (a low number of healthy red blood cells) or polycythemia vera (too many red blood cells)
  • Platelet disorders such as thrombocytosis (too many platelets, the cells involved in blood clotting) or thrombocytopenia (too few platelets)
  • White blood cell disorders such as leukocytosis (too many) or leukopenia (too few)
  • Blood clotting disorders and bleeding disorders such as hemophilia(an inherited bleeding disorder due to the lack of a protein needed for blood clotting)

Although the term "benign" is used, in this setting it means noncancerous. Hematology disorders, even if not cancerous, can still lead to many symptoms and negatively affect someone’s life.

Oncology is the study of cancer. Cancers can start in any body system, which includes solid organs as well as the blood.

In treating hematologic cancers, the team may include specialists in hematology or in cancer, or medical doctors (M.D.s) who have a combined specialty of hematology and medical oncology (hematology/oncology).

Hematology/Oncology Clinics or Services

A service division or clinic may be called hematology/oncology in a medical practice or medical center. You may be referred to specialists there if you have cancerous or noncancerous hematologic conditions. Some hematology/oncology clinics or services also treat non-hematologic cancers.

What Do Hematologists Treat?

Hematologists are physicians who specialize in treating a variety of diseases that affect the blood system and bone marrow. These can include diseases such as bleeding and clotting disorders, as well as diseases that affect how blood cells are made. Some of these diseases are cancerous, and some are not.

What Do Oncologists Treat?

Oncologists are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating cancer. These cancers can include cancers of the blood and bone marrow (hematological cancers) but also cancers that develop in solid organs such as the breast, lungs, or liver. Some examples of solid tumor cancers include:

  • Breast cancer
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (a form of liver cancer)
  • Renal cell cancer (a form of kidney cancer)
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Non-small cell lung cancer

Examples of hematological cancers include:

  • Leukemia: Blood cancer affecting the white blood cells
  • Lymphoma: Cancer that affects the lymphatic system
  • Multiple myeloma: A type of blood cancer of the white blood cells that make antibodies (immune system proteins)

Training and Certification

There is a long process of training and certification to practice as a physician in hematology and medical oncology. To start, you must finish undergraduate and medical school. Then following successful completion of medical school, they enter an internal medicine residency.

Following residency, further training through a fellowship program in a hematology/oncology program is obtained. The educational process can take many years. Following fellowship, the physician can then become board certified.

The dual certification in hematology and medical oncology requires a minimum number of training hours, which can include successfully performing procedures such as bone marrow biopsies (removing a sample of tissue for analysis in a lab), knowing how to evaluate blood counts, imaging studies, and other diagnostic tests.

Other areas of hematology training focus on indwelling venous access devices (such as central lines), therapeutic phlebotomy (removing blood as a form of treatment for polycythemia or hemochromatosis), and apheresis (removing blood to take off the plasma and return the blood cells).

The training will include diagnosing and managing noncancerous hematologic disorders and many types of cancers (both hematological and non-hematological). They must be competent in treating the conditions systemically (throughout the body, such as with chemotherapy and medications).

You must pass an exam to become certified. To maintain certification, continuing education must be completed, or another certification exam can be taken.

Summary

Those who practice in hematology/oncology are specialized physicians. They can diagnose and treat both cancerous and noncancerous diseases that affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system.

A Word From Verywell

If you’ve been referred to see a specialist in hematology/oncology, you may be worried about what that means. Go to your visit with a list of questions so that you remember everything you wish to discuss. It may also be a good idea to bring someone with you to help you remember important points from your visit.

2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. WVU Cancer Institute. Benign hematology.

  2. American Board of Internal Medicine. Hematology policies.

What Is Hematology Oncology? (2)

By Julie Scott, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP
Scott is an Adult Nurse Practitioner and freelance health writer with experience in oncology and hematology.

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What Is Hematology Oncology? (2024)

FAQs

What Is Hematology Oncology? ›

Hematology oncology combines two fields of medicine: hematology, which is the study of the blood, and oncology, the study and treatment of cancer. Hematologic oncologists are trained in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of blood cancers and blood-related disorders.

Why would you see a hematology oncology? ›

Hematologists specialize in diagnosing and treating blood diseases. Oncologists specialize in diagnosing and treating cancers. A hematologist oncologist specializes in both. You might see a hematologist oncologist if you have blood cancer or suspected blood cancer.

What does a hematology oncologist treat? ›

A hematologist-oncologist is a doctor who specializes in blood diseases, bleeding disorders, and cancers.

Is it serious to be referred to a hematologist oncologist? ›

No, seeing a hematologist doesn't mean you have cancer. Hematologists treat all kinds of blood diseases. You may see a hematologist if your primary care provider recommends you see a specialist because your blood tests show abnormal blood cell count or coagulation levels.

What's the difference between oncology and hematology? ›

The main difference between hematology and oncology is that hematology is the study of the diseases related to blood, whereas oncology is the study of cancer. Hematology and oncology are two medical specialties that often intersect, leading to some confusion about their similarities and differences.

What is the most common hematology diagnosis? ›

What is the most common type of blood disorder? Anemia represents the most common type of noncancerous blood disorder. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 3 million people in the U.S. have some type of anemia. Anemia happens when you don't have enough healthy red blood cells.

What can a hematologist tell you? ›

Hematologists diagnose several different non-cancerous blood conditions, including:
  • Bleeding disorders.
  • Anemia (low red blood cell count)
  • Blood clots.
  • Clotting disorders.
  • Hemophilia.
  • Thrombocythemia (high platelet count)
  • Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
  • Leukocytosis (high white blood cell count)
Mar 27, 2024

What kind of physical exam does a hematologist do? ›

They examine the skin and mucous membranes (such as the inner surface of the eyelids or the mouth), looking for paleness, abnormal blood vessels (telangiectasias), bruises, small red, purple or brown spots, or rashes. They feel the neck, underarm, and groin areas for enlargement of lymph nodes.

Do hematologist oncologists perform surgery? ›

Hematologist oncologists do not perform surgery on cancers, instead, they provide medication to treat the conditions. Hematologist-oncologists primarily work in a clinic setting, however, they may also spend time in the hospital providing health care to hospitalized patients.

What are the symptoms of hematology? ›

Among the signs and symptoms of hematologic cancers and blood disorders are:
  • Bleeding or bruising easily.
  • Frequent infections.
  • Fatigue.
  • Fever.
  • Night sweats.
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Bone pain (in myeloma)
  • Painless swelling of lymph nodes (in lymphoma)

What are the three most common blood disorders? ›

Common blood disorders include anemia, bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, blood clots, and blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Talking to your doctor is the first step to take if you believe you may have a blood condition.

What happens on the first visit to a hematologist? ›

A hematologist is an expert in diseases of the blood, lymphatic system, and bone marrow. If it's your first visit, we will review your entire medical history, discuss the symptoms you are experiencing, and perform a physical exam. We will also need to examine your blood to identify any abnormal characteristics.

What does it mean when your doctor sends you to an oncologist? ›

An oncologist is a healthcare provider who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. They'll diagnose your cancer and identify treatment options. They'll discuss each option's benefits and side effects. They also oversee your treatment and manage your post-treatment care.

Why am I being sent to a hematologist oncologist? ›

Reasons include if you have or might have: Anemia, or low red blood cells. Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) Leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma (cancers in your bone marrow, lymph nodes, or white blood cells)

What does hematology oncology deal with? ›

Hematology oncology combines two fields of medicine: hematology, which is the study of the blood, and oncology, the study and treatment of cancer. Hematologic oncologists are trained in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of blood cancers and blood-related disorders.

What diseases do hematologist oncologist treat? ›

Hematologist-oncologists treat blood cancers such as leukemia as well as non-malignant blood disorders.
  • Leukemia. ...
  • Myelodysplastic Syndrome. ...
  • Myeloproliferative Disease. ...
  • Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes. ...
  • Hodgkin Lymphoma (Hodgkin Disease) ...
  • Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. ...
  • Multiple Myeloma.

What is a hematology oncology test? ›

Hematology tests include tests on the blood, blood proteins and blood-producing organs. These tests can evaluate a variety of blood conditions including infection, anemia, inflammation, hemophilia, blood-clotting disorders, leukemia and the body's response to chemotherapy treatments.

Why would I need to see a Haematologist? ›

Haematologists are specialist doctors who diagnose and treat all kinds of blood diseases. Many different health issues can affect the blood, from anaemias to cancers. Your haematologist may refer you for a range of medical tests, and prescribe treatments for your blood condition.

Can hematology detect all cancers? ›

Myth: A blood test can diagnose cancer on its own. Fact: Many cancers cause hormonal and metabolic changes that are detected by a blood test, known as tumour markers. But usually, a blood test on its own isn't enough for a diagnosis. The results could be caused by other conditions that aren't cancer.

Why would you be sent to oncology? ›

Different cancers affect your body in different ways. Generally speaking, you might see an oncologist if you talk to your primary care physician about a change in your body and they recommend you have some preliminary tests. You likely will be referred to an oncologist if your tests indicate you have cancer.

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