Leukemia & Lymphoma

Why Choose UCLA Health for Leukemia and Lymphoma Blood Cancer Care?

We provide blood cancer care through UCLA's Bowyer Oncology Center on campus and the extensive network of UCLA cancer care clinics in the greater Los Angeles area. As leaders in cancer research and clinical care, UCLA Health and the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center are dedicated to accelerating discoveries to prevent and cure cancer.

Our blood cancer specialists offer support throughout your health journey after a lymphoma or leukemia diagnosis. Count on us for:

Focused expertise: Our specialists have years of experience treating and researching all types of leukemia and lymphoma.

Compassionate, collaborative care: We partner with you to create a comprehensive care plan. We provide you with all the information you need to weigh your care options.

Access to innovative research: As an academic medical center, we offer our patients the opportunity to take part in the latest clinical trials that study new treatments.

Convenient locations: We offer blood cancer services in multiple locations across the greater Los Angeles region. At UCLA Health's community cancer care centers, you receive the highest quality care, close to home.

Our Services

From diagnosis to treatment and beyond, we offer comprehensive services for people with leukemia and lymphoma. We provide leading-edge care, including:

Diagnosis

Your doctor may order one or more of the following tests, depending on your symptoms:

Complete blood count: A blood test taken to check for low levels of red and white blood cells and platelets.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate: A blood test that checks the level of inflammation in the body.

Advanced imaging: Tests that include X-rays and imaging studies, such as CT, MRI, positron emission tomography (PET) scans and bone scans.

Lymph node biopsy: A procedure to remove lymph node tissue to examine it under a microscope for cancer cells.

Bone marrow biopsy (aspiration): A procedure in which a specialist draws bone marrow fluid and tissue samples from the hip to test for cancer cells. 

Cancer Support

Finding the right support can be as important as receiving the right treatment. UCLA Health can help. The Simms/Mann- UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology provides countless resources to help you or a loved one through the continuum of cancer care. We offer workshops in helpful topics, such as meditation, stress management, nutrition and more.

Types of Leukemia and Lymphoma We Treat 

We specialize in treating all types of blood cancers, including:

Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of cancer that forms in the bone marrow cells that are responsible for creating blood. There are four main types of leukemia:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): A cancer of the bone marrow that begins in immature blood cells called myeloid cells. Myeloid cells may become red or white blood cells or platelets. AML can quickly spread into the bloodstream and other organs.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): A rare, slower-growing form of bone marrow cancer that mostly affects older adults.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): A blood cancer that starts in a type of white blood cell, called lymphocytes, before it quickly spreads to other parts of the body. It is most common in children and young adults.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): A cancer that originates in the lymphocytes. CLL is manageable for longer periods of time, but harder to cure than acute leukemias.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a form of cancer that originates from the immune system's white blood cells, called lymphocytes. There are two main types of lymphomas that differ based on the lymphocytes involved:

Hodgkin lymphoma: This type of lymphoma typically occurs in the upper body, such as the neck, chest or armpits. It is one of the most treatable forms of cancer when caught early.  UCLA offers several types of Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: This type of lymphoma can begin in the lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue throughout the body, including the stomach, intestines or skin. It's usually not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage.

Treatments We Offer

Our team offers the most advanced lymphoma and leukemia treatments, including:

Traditional cancer treatments

Chemotherapy: Medications that damage or kill malignant cells. Chemotherapy is often used in combination with other therapies, such as radiation or bone marrow transplant, to treat blood cancers.

Radiation therapy: The use of high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.

Bone Marrow Transplant

A procedure that infuses healthy cells into the body to stimulate new bone marrow growth. It may also be called a stem cell transplant. There are different types of transplants:

Autologous bone marrow transplant: A procedure in which doctors use a patient's stem cells. Specialists extract the stem cells from blood or bone marrow. The patient then receives high-dose chemotherapy or radiation to damage and kill the cancer cells. The stem cells are then infused back into the body to boost the immune system.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplant: A procedure in which stem cells from a donor are collected and frozen. The patient first receives high-dose chemotherapy or radiation to kill the cancer cells. The donor cells are then infused to help build a new immune system.

Haploidentical: A type of transplant using stem cells from a half-matched donor. A half-match is typically a family member such as a mother, father or child.

CAR T-cell Therapy

UCLA Health researchers were at the forefront of developing CAR T-cell therapy. This groundbreaking immunotherapy may be used for some hard-to-treat blood cancers.

Doctors take a blood sample and extract the T cells. A T cell is a type of white blood cell that helps protect the body from infection. The extracted T cells are then sent to a lab, where they are programmed to recognize cancer cells. The modified T cells are infused back into the patient's blood, where they target and destroy cancer cells.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are studies that evaluate a new drug or therapy for safety and effectiveness. At UCLA Health, our blood cancer specialists actively participate in several clinical trials. Your care team will let you know if you are a candidate for one of the studies.

Meet the team

Our blood cancer specialists have deep clinical expertise to support patients who have a life-threatening blood or bone marrow disease. We use the most advanced therapies and transplant techniques to treat all types of leukemia and lymphoma.

Contact us

Call 888-662-8252 to request an appointment with a blood cancer specialist at UCLA Health.