Who are hematologists?
Specialists who deeply understand blood and its disorders are known as hematologists. They are primarily pediatricians or internal medicine doctors. Hematologists practice in clinical and non-clinical settings; these include private clinics, hospitals, blood banks, and laboratories.
Hematology, a medical specialty, focuses on the elements within blood, bone marrow, and the lymphatic system. Blood comprises distinct components: red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, and plasma, each with a unique function. RBCs facilitate oxygen transport to all body tissues, WBCs play a crucial role in the immune system's defense against infections, platelets form plugs to control and halt bleeding, and plasma is the fluid medium for carrying all blood cells.
What training do hematologists in the US have?
In the United States, doctors aspiring to become licensed hematologists need to follow these essential steps:
- Earn a 4-year undergraduate degree.
- Complete 4-years of medical school.
- Undergo a 3-year residency in either internal medicine or pediatrics.
- Pursue a hematology fellowship program lasting anywhere from 3 to 5 years.
In the US, one can complete hematology fellowships in pediatric hematology, adult hematology, coagulation, and hemato-oncology. The American Board of Internal Medicine certifies hematologists in the US. The American Board of Pediatric Medicine provides board certification to pediatric hematologists in the US.
Hematologist vs. hematopathologist
The key differences between hematologists and hematopathologists lie in their roles and areas of focus within the field of blood-related medicine:
Hematologists are typically medical doctors who have completed specialized training in hematology after becoming board-certified internists or pediatricians. Their main focus is on direct patient care, diagnosing and managing blood disorders, including blood and bone marrow cancers.
In contrast, hematopathologists are usually medical doctors with board certification in anatomical and clinical pathology, followed by additional training in hematopathology. They focus on studying diseases of the blood, bone marrow, and related tissues, including lymph nodes, the spleen, the thymus, and other lymphoid structures. Hematopathologists primarily work in laboratory settings, where they analyze tissue and blood samples to diagnose conditions affecting blood-forming and lymphatic tissues.
While both specialists deal with blood-related issues, hematologists focus on patient treatment, whereas hematopathologists concentrate on laboratory-based diagnosis and research of blood and lymphatic system disorders.
What are the standard tests and procedures that hematologists perform?
To diagnose a blood disorder, hematologists may order several blood tests. Some of the standard hematological tests include complete blood count (CBC), differential count, prothrombin time (PT), reticulocyte count, partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and international normalized ratio (INR). Hematological procedures that hematologists are experts at performing include blood transfusions, bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, and ablation therapy.
A CBC is a laboratory test that measures the levels of several cells in the blood. A CBC also includes hematocrit red blood cell volume and hemoglobin concentration. Differential count measures the various types of WBCs in a patient's blood, including neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, B lymphocytes, and T lymphocytes. The reticulocyte count test measures the number of immature RBCs, also known as reticulocytes, in the blood. PT, PTT, and INR are tests used to evaluate blood clotting capacity; these tests help diagnose bleeding and clotting disorders.
In addition to these blood tests, hematologists also perform bone marrow biopsies on patients. After injecting local anesthesia, they extract a small amount of the spongy tissue and send the sample to the laboratory. Medical professionals then use the sample to diagnose conditions like cancer and monitor the progress of chemotherapy.
Hematologists also perform procedures such as transfusions that involve transferring blood and its products through veins in patients who have lost blood due to an injury, illness, or surgery. Bone marrow transplant involves removing diseased marrow portions and replacing them with healthy tissue. Doctors take healthy cells from another patient (a donor) or another part of the patient's body. Hemato-oncologists are experts in providing chemotherapy used for treating cancers. During chemotherapy, hematologists inject chemicals into the blood, which kill the malignant cells that cause cancer. Hematologists employ ablation therapy to destroy defective tissues in patients' bodies, utilizing heat, cold, lasers, and chemicals during the procedure.
Common conditions for which we consult hematologists
Hematologists have extensive knowledge of blood disorders. Blood diseases have many symptoms, ranging from very mild to life-threatening. Medical professionals classify hematological diseases into two categories: benign and malignant.
Following are some of the benign non-cancerous diseases that affect the blood:
- Anemia: This disease occurs when our bodies either don't produce enough RBCs or the RBCs produced are not healthy. The result is insufficient oxygen delivered to tissues. The most common type of anemia found in humans is iron deficiency anemia. In this condition, a reduced supply of iron in the body hampers hemoglobin production, leading to defective RBCs. In sickle cell anemia, the RBCs are sickle-shaped and tend to disintegrate. The distorted share affects the RBC's oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to anemia.
- Hemophilia: It is a blood disorder where a genetic mutation leads to impaired blood clotting capacity. Patients with hemophilia can experience excessive or spontaneous bleeding after an injury.
- Von Willebrand's disease: This is also related to the blood clotting capacity. In this inherited disease, a person has low levels of Von Willebrand's factor, a protein essential for the regular clotting of blood.
- Thalassemia: This is a blood disorder in which the hemoglobin and RBCs in our body are at lower-than-normal levels. The genetic mutations found in this disease are transferred from parents to their kids, making thalassemia an inherited disorder.
Malignant hematological diseases can be fatal and include various types of blood cancers. The most common cancers in human blood are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. In leukemia, the production of cells is uncontrolled because of cancer in the tissues that form blood cells. Still, the cells are both immature and dysfunctional. The most common type of blood cell affected in leukemia is the WBC. This results in a significant decrease in our bodies' infection-fighting capacity.
Lymphoma is the cancerous growth of lymphocytes, a type of WBC responsible for fighting infections. Lymph nodes, the thymus, spleen, and bone marrow produce lymphocytes. Myeloma is a form of blood cancer that initiates its development in the bone marrow. In patients diagnosed with myeloma, the plasma cells in the blood multiply uncontrolled, damaging the immune system, bones, and kidneys.
What to expect from your appointment with a hematologist?
Hematologists often work closely with primary care physicians, oncologists, pediatricians, and internists. It is important to note that being referred to a hematologist doesn't necessarily mean that you have cancer, as they treat various blood diseases and disorders.
You must see a hematologist near you when your blood test results show an abnormal blood cell count or coagulation levels. In summary, you are redirected to a hematologist when concerned about the lymphatic system, bone marrow, or blood cells.
Here is a list of things you need to ensure when visiting a hematologist:
- Medical information: Bring your medical reports, lab test results, insurance card(s), and other information to help the hematologist accurately diagnose your condition.
- Medications: Various medications can affect your internal system. You can bring your prescriptions and list any over-the-counter drugs or supplements you intake daily.
- Prepare questions: When referred to a hematologist, it is natural to have questions. It's better to jot them down and ask your concerns about your condition.
- Bring someone to accompany you: It will help you be comfortable visiting a hematologist. Moreover, they can listen to your diagnosis and ensure you follow the prescribed treatment plans.
During the appointment, the hematologist will ask questions about changes in your body and overall health. It will help them find the cause of the abnormal blood reports and explain the cause of your condition. They may also order other tests to diagnose and screen your tests for signs of cancer accurately.
Hematologists look for proteins or chemicals in your blood to identify if you have cancer and prescribe surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy based on their findings. They will stage the cancer to build a foundation for your cancer treatment. Over time, they will contact your primary care physician to see if your condition improves or worsens. They will also check if your cancer is returning.
Questions to ask your hematologist
If your doctor has referred you to a hematologist, it is probably because a blood abnormality is at the root of your problem. You may also need to undergo a medical procedure that requires expert supervision.
Before visiting with a hematologist, list your symptoms, including how long you have been experiencing them and their severity. Take the time to create a list of questions that improve your understanding of the nature of your condition and what you can expect going forward. Examples include:
- What do my blood test results indicate?
- Which tests do you suggest?
- What does the testing procedure entail?
- When will I receive my results?
- Is my condition under control?
- What are the advantages and risks involved in the treatment?
- What can happen if I do not avail of treatment?
- What is the recovery rate from the treatment?
- How will I know if my treatment is successful?
Locating the best hematologists in Forest Hills, New York
Zocdoc is one of the most accessible platforms in the US, and you can use it to locate hematologists near you. Zocdoc allows you to book appointments with licensed hematologists practicing near you. The platform enables you to filter the results to fit your requirements. With Zocdoc, you can find hematologists based on your location, zip code, medical condition, the date and time you prefer to see the specialist, and your medical insurance policy and plan.
You can also upload a photo of your medical insurance card to Zocdoc to find the right insurance plan. However, if you do not want to do this, you can enter your insurance information into your account by choosing your plan from a selection. For any insurance-related queries, check out Zocdoc's patient help center.
To help you further, Zocdoc also includes a unique profile for every hematologist listed on its website. The profile has detailed information on everything you need to know about your doctor before choosing them. The educational background of the specialists, including training and certifications, their licenses, areas of specialization, affiliations, accreditation, and awards received in the past, are all listed on the website. You will also find information on the doctors' gender, the languages they speak, the age group of patients they generally treat, and the hematological conditions they have experience managing. Using the Zocdoc application, you can make in-person and online appointments and check if the preferred hematologist near you accepts your current medical insurance. Once you select your insurance from the drop-down menu, Zocodc will tell you if the doctor accepts your insurance plan.
All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
Hematology statistics in Forest Hills, New York
The American Cancer Society's projections for the estimated number of new leukemia cases in the U.S. in 2025 are around 66,890. For lymphoma, the estimate is approximately 89,070 cases, while myeloma is projected to have about 36,110 new cases. In terms of estimated deaths, it is projected that there will be over 23,540 deaths from leukemia, around 20,540 from lymphoma, and more than 12,030 from myeloma.
In the state of New York, the estimated number of new leukemia cases is around 4,020. For myeloma, the estimate exceeds 2,350 cases, while lymphoma cases are approximately 5,670. In terms of projected deaths, it is anticipated that there will be over 1,190 fatalities from leukemia, around 1,000 from lymphoma, and more than 510 from myeloma.
According to data from 2017 to 2021, the leukemia incidence rate was nearly 16.1 cases per 1,000,000 people. For myeloma, the rate dropped to approximately 8.3. In comparison, the incidence rates for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (20.8) were significantly higher than those for Hodgkin lymphoma (2.9). The mortality rates between 2018 and 2022 present a different picture; leukemia had the highest mortality rate at 5.2, followed by non-Hodgkin lymphoma at approximately 4.3, myeloma at 2.4, and Hodgkin lymphoma at 0.2.
Based on the American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts and Figures (2024), the most commonly diagnosed cancer in children and adolescents in the United States is leukemia, which accounts for over 28% of cases in children and nearly 13% in adolescents, and lymphoma, representing about 12% in children and approximately 19% in adolescents. While the trends may differ by subtype, the overall incidence of leukemia has stabilized in children. Still, it continues to rise in adolescents at approximately 1% per year since at least 1975. For adults aged 20 and older, rates of leukemia declined by 0.5% per year from 2015 to 2019, following a period of increase that began in the late 1990s. These trends are notably similar for both sexes.
The city of Forest Hills comes under Queens County in New York. According to the summarised version of the vital statistics for 2019, published by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, malignant cancers were responsible for the second-highest number of deaths in New York City. In Queens County, in 2019, 259 people died due to lymphomas, and 99 died due to leukemia.
Sources
Johns Hopkins Medicine
WebMD
Cleveland Clinic
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Boston Medical Center
Verywell Health
American Cancer Society[1]
American Cancer Society[2]
