INTRODUCTION

Hematology is the study of blood in health and disease. It includes problems with
the red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph
nodes, spleen, and the proteins involved in bleeding and clotting (hemostasis and
thrombosis). A hematologist is a medical doctor who applies this specialized knowledge
to treat patients with blood conditions. Hematologists evaluate and treat patients with
anemia; too many or too few white cells or platelets; enlarged lymph nodes or spleen;
bleeding and clotting disorders; and malignancies (cancers) which affect the blood,
including leukemias, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and myeloproliferative disorders.
Hematologists prescribe blood product administration and removal of excess blood
components as needed for a variety of blood disorders. They also prescribe
immunosuppressive and growth factor drugs and biological therapy for benign and
malignant blood disorders
When something is wrong with your blood, it can affect your total health. That is
why it is important for you to know about some of the common blood disorders that may
affect you. People may be affected by many different types of blood conditions and
blood cancers. Common blood disorders include anemia, bleeding disorders such as
hemophilia, blood clots, and blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
Each of the cells of the body have a tightly regulated system that controls their
growth, maturity, reproduction and eventual death. Cancer begins when cells in a part of
the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start
because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Today, millions of people are living
with cancer or have had cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the
United States. About one-half of all men and one-third of all women in the US will
develop cancer during their lifetimes.
Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. Cancer is the
second leading cause of death in the United States. About one-half of all men and onethird of all women in the US will develop cancer during their lifetimes.
Some of the earliest evidence of cancer is found among fossilized bone tumors,
human mummies in ancient Egypt, and ancient manuscripts. Abnormalities suggestive
of the bone cancer called osteosarcoma have been seen in mummies.
Among manuscripts the first known description of cancer is seen in the Edwin
Smith Papyrus and is a copy of part of an ancient Egyptian textbook on trauma surgery.
It describes 8 cases of tumors or ulcers of the breast that were treated by cauterization
with a tool called the fire drill. It dates back to about 3000 BC. The papyrus describes
the condition as incurable.