Hematology – diseases, indications for a visit. What does a hematologist do?

There are many departments and specializations in modern medicine. Some of them are very detailed, while others are more extensive or are responsible for extremely important organs. One such important medical science is hematology.

Healthy blood nourishes the organs of the human body properly and has an effect on the immune system. A hematologist is a specialist who may be referred by your GP due to, for example, disturbing blood test results.

The hematologist deals with the treatment of internal diseases, paediatrics or has obtained another XNUMXnd degree specialization and is also a doctor who completed an additional three-year specialization in hematology, i.e. the science of blood, cancer and various non-cancerous diseases of the haematopoietic and lymphatic systems. A hematologist is a specialist who is able to diagnose and treat diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphatic systems, as well as implement preventive measures.

After completing hematology, the doctor has the right to:

1. solving clinical problems in the field of hematology in both open and closed treatment;
2. implementation of the prevention of blood diseases;
3. adjudication in medical, insurance, court or other matters in the field of hematology;
4. rule on the need to start rehabilitation, inability to work, disability or damage to health as a result of various diseases;
5. consulting GPs or other specialties;
6. branch management or a hematology clinic;
7. conducting an individual or group specialist medical practice or service health services in the field of hematology;
8. managing the specialization of other doctors in the field of hematology;
9. conducting training of co-workers and other medical workers;
10. driving experiments in the field of hematology.

Hematologist – pediatric hematology

Hematology and pediatric oncology is a field for doctors who already have a second degree specialization in paediatrics. It is very important that almost half of the cancers diagnosed in children are hematopoietic system tumors, which prompted the need to create a separate specialization.

A pediatric hematologist can diagnose, plan treatment and chemotherapy for all cancers in children, as well as diagnose and treat diseases of the hematopoietic system.

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Hematologist – scope of knowledge

After completing the specialization course, the haematologist acquires knowledge in the field of:

1. basics of clinical hematology, and thus also knowledge of immunology, epidemiology of blood diseases, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics of drugs used in hematological treatment. In addition, the hematologist must know the mechanisms and effects of ionizing radiation;
2. diagnostics of blood diseases, i.e. complete blood counts, biochemical and immunological blood tests, histopathological and cytological tests of the bone marrow, imaging tests;
3. thorough knowledge of pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of various blood diseases;
4. bone marrow and hematopoietic cell transplantation;
5. transfusion;
6. palliative care;
7. hematological problemsthat appear in other diseases.

The diseases that the hematologist encounters include:

1. various forms of anemia;
2. granulocytopenie;
3. thrombocytopenia;
4. acquired and congenital immunodeficiencies;
5. chronic myeloproliferative syndromes;
6. acute myeloblastic leukemia;
7. myelodysplastic syndromes;
8. acute lymphoblastic leukemia;
9. Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas;
10. myelomas;
11. AIDS;
12. hemorrhagic diathesis and thrombophilia.

Hematologist – symptoms of hemolytic diseases

Hemolytic diseases are associated with changes in the composition of the blood and changes in hematopoietic functions. They lead to the development of symptoms that are an indication for blood tests. The most common then are:

1. constant feeling of fatigue;
2. spots in front of the eyes;
3. dizziness;
4. weakness;
5. headache;
6. the appearance of hematomas and bruises for no reason and for a long time;
7. fainting;
8. long wound healing;
9. gingival overgrowth;
10. bleeding from the gums and nose;
11. a pale shade of the skin and mucous membranes.

When we observe the above symptoms, it is worth starting diagnostics with a visit to the GP. If he deems it necessary, he will order basic blood and urine tests. On their basis, he may find some abnormalities, which will be an indication for scheduling a visit to the hematologist.

It is also worth remembering that blood-related diseases can be inherited, so if there is any such condition in the family, it is also worth visiting a hematologist.

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Hematologist – preparation for the visit

A visit to a hematologist does not require any special preparation. The specialist will first of all want to conduct an interview to obtain information about diseases and ailments and diseases that occur in the family. If we had any blood tests before visiting the hematologist, it is worth taking them with you, as well as hospital records or other documents confirming our health condition and past illnesses.

Although a visit to a hematologist does not require any special preparation, it is worth remembering:

1. ID card, current medical records, test results, list of currently taken medications and the amount of their doses, taken preventive vaccinations or other – you should also write down the dates of admission and names of vaccines. It is also worth having the dates of hospitalization written down. The results of blood counts should be performed no later than the week preceding the visit;
2. it is also worth preparing documentation on allergies, chronic diseases or other severe diseases;
3. history of neoplastic diseases in the family – it is worth informing the doctor who, when and with what neoplastic disease in the family, which may be an important element in the diagnosis of neoplastic diseases;
4. a detailed description of the emerging symptoms – the doctor must know when the symptoms appear, what is their frequency, at what time of the day they appear, what we do when they appear and, for example, if they are accompanied by pain;
5. take a notebook to the visit and write down the most important information provided by the doctor – visits to the hematologist are often stressful, which makes it easier to forget something;
6. ask a loved one to accompany you during your visit. Such a person will be a support for us, help us remember the details of the visit regarding diagnosis or treatment;
7. if the family doctor has made an initial diagnosis, it is worth reading about the disease before visiting the hematologist. This will make it easier for us to talk to a specialist. However, remember to use proven and professional sources;
8. prepare a list of questions for the doctor;
9. while waiting for the visit, have a bottle of water and something to eat with you – hunger and thirst will not distract you during the visit;
10. make sure that during the visit to the hematologist, e.g. blood for morphology will be collected. Ask if you should prepare for the test, e.g. to be fasting.

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Hematologist – the course of the visit

The haematologist will ask many questions about the patient’s health during the visit. This is a very important part of the visit, so the questions are often very detailed, and small details often determine the correct diagnosis. Therefore, one should be prepared for many questions relating to the family history of diseases, serious diseases and neoplasms.

The haematologist may also need detailed documentation, so it is a good idea to prepare it in advance. Arrange the documents in chronological order, thanks to which the doctor will read more about the treatment history. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You have the right to expect specific information from your doctor about your health and further treatment. Fully understanding your own health condition is a key element of knowingly participating in treatment and recovery.

During the visit, the doctor may both suggest treatment and order additional diagnostic tests. Most often, the hematologist also sets the date of the next follow-up visit.

Diagnostic tests ordered by a hematologist most often they affect blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. It is understandable that the material for the study is collected in various ways – from blood collection to bone marrow biopsy. If the haematologist orders imaging tests, they are most often performed to assess the condition of the lymph nodes.

A hematologist may also order genetic tests to detect specific genetic changes. They can indicate a specific disease. Thanks to this, the doctor plans further treatment and is able to determine the patient’s prognosis. Making a diagnosis often requires the cooperation of many specialists from various fields, which makes it necessary to perform a lot of research.

During the visit, it is also worth asking what limitations result from the diagnosed disease and finding out what we can change in our lifestyle.

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Hematologist – ordered tests

Hematology deals with many diseases and conditions. However, in order to properly diagnose them, specific tests are necessary. Today’s laboratories have specialized equipment that allows for a very detailed analysis of samples, which is why in hematology laboratory tests play an extremely important role. The most common blood count is performed, which is recommended to be repeated every year. Thanks to it, you can get a lot of information about the current condition of the body. The morphology allows you to analyze many factors, such as the number of red and white blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, platelets, OP, CRP, and hematocrit level.

If your blood count is inadequate, other tests will also be required. A more detailed examination is, for example, blood biochemistry, thanks to which we can analyze the blood plasma, so we obtain such parameters as: urea, creatinine, electrolytes, glucose, amylase, bilirubin levels. Another important test is a smear that tells us about hypothyroidism, infectious diseases, bacterial, viral or fungal infections, and about bone marrow disorders.

Hematologist – methods of treatment

As in the case of many other fields of medicine, also in the case of hematology, the form of treatment depends primarily on the type of disease or ailments and the degree of its advancement. Many ailments related to blood can be cured relatively easily, including using properly selected supplementation.

This is the case, for example, of anemia, which can be remedied by ironing up the body’s iron deficiency. However, there are also more serious conditions that require much more specialized treatment. Cancer is one of the most dangerous and at the same time difficult to treat diseases. Their treatment is often extremely long, burdensome, and sometimes ineffective. The choice of a method of combating neoplasms depends on their type. Most often, neoplastic diseases are treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Hematology in oncology

Hematology and oncology are branches of medicine that are, to some extent, interconnected. Oncology is a much broader concept. The oncologist must complete a hematological oncology course, gaining much more general knowledge than a hematologist. This means that in order for an oncologist to diagnose a cancerous blood disease in a patient, he will most likely refer him to a hematologist whose knowledge about blood cancers is more accurate and extensive.

At the same time, many cases of blood cancers are treated by both a hematologist and an oncologist, and some drugs administered during chemotherapy may lead to the development of myelodysplastic syndrome, and in extreme cases to acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia.