Hematologic oncologists are trained in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of blood cancers and other blood-related disorders.
The doctors at the Blood Cancer Center at City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago use a wide range of diagnostic tools and advanced treatment options, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and stem cell transplants, for patients with hematologic malignancies. Our Chicago blood cancer team offers cancer care with a personalized approach, tailoring treatment plans to each patient's specific needs.
For more than three decades, the experts at City of Hope Chicago have been dedicated to treating patients with blood cancers. Our doctors use leading-edge stem cell transplant technology and new and emerging treatments for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, while working with supportive care providers to help patients manage side effects and maintain their quality of life.
City of Hope’s flagship hospital in Duarte, California, is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center and pioneer in the treatment of blood cancers. City of Hope has created the largest bone marrow and stem cell transplant program in the United States, extending the reach of our comprehensive, patient-centered model of cancer care to patients in the Chicago area and delivering advanced treatments to even more patients, with the sense of urgency they deserve.
Blood cancers, also called hematologic malignancies, differ from other types of cancer because they develop in the body's blood cells and may not form tumors.
Your hematologic oncologist will work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan designed specifically for your type of cancer. Treatment for hematologic cancers depends on a number of factors, such as the type of cancer, your age, how fast the cancer is progressing and if and where the cancer has spread. The Blood Cancer Center at City of Hope Chicago offers patients a number of treatment options, including:
A stem cell transplant may be used to infuse healthy stem cells into the body to stimulate new bone marrow growth, suppress disease and reduce the possibility of a relapse. Stem cells are drawn from the bone marrow, circulating blood (peripheral blood stem cells) and umbilical cord blood.
If stem cell transplantation is a necessary part of your treatment plan, the Blood Cancer Center at City of Hope Chicago offers a comprehensive array of therapies and transplantation services, including autologous (individual’s own cells), allogeneic (donor cells), and adoptive immunotherapies, which is a treatment approach that uses an individual’s own (autologous) or donor (allogeneic) white blood cells as a proposed treatment for various malignancies. City of Hope, centrally located between Chicago and Milwaukee, is the only hospital in that area to offer a full spectrum of stem cell transplant procedures.
Patients who require stem cell transplantation will stay in one of our private, inpatient rooms and receive around-the-clock monitoring and care. Your care team will include a board-certified hematologic oncologist who is a bone marrow transplant physician, as well as a hematopathologist, nurse care manager, transplant pharmacist and transplant coordinator. The team is dedicated to making sure you and your family are comfortable throughout your stay.
Learn more about stem cell transplants at City of Hope Chicago.
NMDP
City of Hope Chicago is a member of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and an
approved NMDP Transplant and Collection Center. NMDP, formerly known as Be the Match,
is a world leader in blood cancer research and clinical support and has
one of the most diverse marrow donor registries in the world.
To learn more about the NMDP or for more information about
becoming a donor or finding a match, visit the NMDP website
or call 800-MARROW-2 (800-627-7692).
The City of Hope Chicago Blood Cancer Center experts are committed to offering integrative, personalized treatments for blood-related diseases and all types of blood cancer—myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia. The blood cancer team is led by Tulio Rodriguez, MD, who brings more than 20 years of experience in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and stem cell transplants. Board certified in hematology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and bilingual in English and Spanish, Dr. Rodriguez has developed deep expertise in stem cell and bone marrow transplantation, having performed over 2,500 procedures to date. Explore the links below to learn more about the team.
Tulio Rodriguez, MD
Director of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, City of Hope Chicago
Marlon Kleinman, MD
Hematologist Oncologist
Leslie Popplewell, MD
Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Medical Director
Ajaz M. Khan, MD, MBA, CPE
Chair, Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix
Bradford Tan, MD
Chair, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, City of Hope Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix
Karan Shah, MD, MBA
Radiation Oncologist and Co-Medical Director, Breast Program
Our Blood Cancer Center team has expertise in diagnosing and treating hematologic diseases using sophisticated technologies and therapies delivered through a personalized approach and customized to meet your needs. Our center includes both inpatient and outpatient treatment options.
When you first visit the hospital, you’ll meet with your team, which includes a board-certified hematologic oncologist, to evaluate your condition and review your medical records. Your hematologic oncologist will then determine whether additional diagnostic tests, such as lab work, a bone marrow biopsy or imaging scans, are required before determining a treatment plan.
Once in treatment, you and your family are cared for by a multidisciplinary team of experts and specialists. Your care is directly managed by one or more of our board-certified hematologic oncologists who work together with the entire team. A nurse care manager will help you navigate through questions or concerns.
You will also have access to an array of supportive care services, such as nutritional, naturopathic, psychosocial and spiritual support, as well as other services focused on helping you manage side effects, recover from treatment and improve your quality of life.
As part of our whole-person model of care, your City of Hope blood cancer care team may recommend a range of supportive care services, such as:
"I was so happy to have met my donor, and I shared my deepest gratitude for him. He, along with my Chicago doctors and entire clinical team, gave me a second chance to be a mom to my kids and a wife to my husband. I feel like I wouldn’t be here today without his gift and their expertise."
