Cancers are cells that grow out of control and spread. Blood cancer is a type of cancer that affects the cells and proteins of our blood.

These include:

• Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
• White blood cells that help fight infection and disease.
• Platelets are cell fragments that help blood clot to stop bleeding.
• Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue inside bones that produces white blood cells.

Doctors also call blood cancers hematologic malignancies.  These include leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes and lymphomas.

Blood cancers can cause symptoms like excessive fatigue or weakness. Your child may also have frequent infections, bruising, bleeding or unexplained fevers.

We treat all types of blood cancer, from the most common to the rarest types.

Some of the main types of blood cancer our team treats include:

• Leukemia: A cancer of the blood that develops in the bone marrow. Leukemia causes bone marrow to make white blood cells that don't work right.
• Lymphoma: A type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system; it circulates white blood cells called lymphocytes around the body.
• Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): When bone marrow grows abnormally. It can lead to poorly formed blood cells that don't work right. Also called myelodysplasia. It is cancer, but it can also develop into more aggressive forms of blood cancer.

Your child's cancer care team will tailor a care plan to your child. They'll consider your child's age, health, medical history and unique cancer. The care plan may also change based on how your child responds to treatments.

Some of the most common treatments we use to fight cancer include:

• Chemotherapy: Drugs that kill fast-growing cells, like cancer
• Radiation: High-energy rays that damage cancer cells
• Immunotherapy: Drugs that tell your body's immune system to fight cancer
• Cellular therapy: We can give kids with certain types of leukemia a newer treatment called Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel). This cellular therapy is FDA-approved for B-cell acute ALL. It uses your child's T cells to target leukemia cells
• Bone marrow transplant: Replaces cancerous bone marrow with healthy stem cells. We may use this if leukemia comes back after other types of care

While getting cancer treatment, your child may also need:

• Medicine for side effects like nausea or to protect healthy organs
• Blood transfusions or blood components to treat symptoms of blood cancer
• Antibiotics to treat or prevent infections

If your child's cancer isn't responding to treatment, your care team may work with the experts at the Children's Wisconsin COMPASS clinic. They consider the unique genetics of your child's cancer. We study samples of your child's tumor to learn what types of care will work best.

After your child's treatment, they may no longer have any signs of cancer. This is remission. They'll still have many regular appointments for routine follow-up care. We'll monitor their recovery and make sure the cancer isn't coming back.

The MACC Fund Center also offers support groups for patients and families. There are groups for every stage of the cancer journey — from diagnosis to survivorship.

The MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders is here for you and your family.  We work with you through every step of your leukemia journey. Our blood cancer experts work with doctors in other specialty areas. We can offer efficient, tailored care for your child and family.

• Comprehensive Leukemia Clinic: We bring together experts of all types of care in a single clinic visit. We address not only the cancer itself but also your child's overall health and well-being. We offer the latest treatments that span the entire spectrum of care. We're here for you, from diagnosis to care plans and long-term follow-up.
• Lymphoma programs: Expert care for Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We ensure your child receives treatment protocols tailored to their specific cancer. Our team provides the best care for kids with lymphoma, including the latest treatments.
• Blood cancer experts: We have provided decades of nationally recognized childhood blood cancer care. Our team members diagnose and care for blood cancers like leukemia. We also have experts who perform bone marrow transplants.
• Research partners: We work with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. Our projects focus on studying blood and marrow transplants and cellular therapy. These are treatments for leukemias, lymphomas and other blood cancers.
• Clinical trials: We offer dozens of clinical trials. We are a part of Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia and Lymphoma and other research groups. This gets our patients access to the latest treatments for blood cancers. And our clinical trial work helps kids with cancer across the world.
• Complementary and integrative medicine: We offer creative arts therapies, acupressure, aromatherapy and massage. This type of care can help ease the side effects and pain of cancer and cancer care.
• Family support: Our team sponsors support groups at all stages of treatment. These include survivorship and teen and young adult groups.
• COMPASS Clinic: Standard cancer care options may not work for some children. That's where the COMPASS Clinic comes in. They use Advanced molecular testing can tell us more about your child's cancer. This clinic offers a specific diagnosis and tailors a care plan based on its genetic and molecular makeup.

At Children's Wisconsin, we bring you and your family the best and safest care possible. We offer a comfortable and welcoming space at every step of your journey.

Before Your First Visits

For your first visit, please make sure you have your child's:

• Medical history
• Notes from past visits
• List of current medicines
• Related test results
• Reports from previous procedures

Feel free to contact our team if you have any questions.

Depending on the type of blood cancer your child has and what treatments they need, they may visit one of our specialty programs or clinics.

At Children's Wisconsin, we support kids with ALL and their families at the Comprehensive Leukemia Center. We bring together experts of all types of care in a single clinic visit. We address not only the cancer itself but also your child's overall health and well-being. Learn more about leukemia and how we care for it. 

Depending on the types of treatment they need, kids access our Fertility Navigation Program to discuss their options for having kids in the future.

During Treatment 

Your child may need aggressive treatment for blood cancer. We work to give you and your family the best and safest care possible. Our care teams create a welcoming, familiar, healing environment during your journey.

If your child needs to stay at the hospital, you will meet with their care team daily. Our expert team of nurses will check in throughout the day. They're there to help make sure you have everything you need and feel taken care of.

The MACC Fund Center has resources to make your time with us as comfortable as possible. You can use our:

• Family lounge
• Fully stocked kitchen
• Laundry facilities
• Young child playroom
• Teen center

If your child isn't responding to treatment, they'll work with the experts at the Children's Wisconsin COMPASS clinic. They study samples of your child's tumor to learn what types of care will work best. It also tells us more about your child's cancer type and specific characteristics.

After Treatment

Our team is here for your family after your child finishes their cancer care. Follow-up care is essential for kids with blood cancers. They may have side effects from treatment. They may also be more likely to get other cancers. Contact your care team if you have long-term care and maintenance questions.

Young adults who are currently receiving or have received cancer treatment can get special support through our young adult oncology group. The group meets monthly to help young adults (18-39) with cancer or recovering from it to share experiences and plan activities.

After treatment, you'll enter the bridge to next steps program . This program helps you and your child transition into post-therapy care. The program consists of two visits. You will meet with a survivorship provider and a psychologist. They'll provide education, a summary of care and support.

At least two years after your child completes treatment, they can enter the Next Steps Clinic. This long-term follow-up program cares for cancer survivors. Our care team monitors for recurrence, manages late effects and promotes overall well-being.