The Inova Hematology Program at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute focuses on diagnosing and treating both blood cancers and non-cancerous blood disorders. Our team of board-certified specialists is experienced in managing malignant and benign hematology conditions, as well as sickle cell disease. We offer advanced treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and collaborate to develop personalized care plans using the latest technology and research.

Saving lives with timely diagnosis and best possible care

Blood disorders

Blood disorders happen when there's something wrong with your blood, which can affect your overall health. They can involve issues with the different parts of your blood: red blood cells (which carry oxygen), white blood cells (which fight infections), or platelets (which help with blood clotting).

Some common blood disorders include:

Anemia: When you don’t have enough red blood cells, making you feel tired and weak.

Bleeding disorders: Like hemophilia, where your blood doesn’t clot properly, causing excessive bleeding.

Blood clots: When blood clumps together too much, which can lead to blockages in your veins or arteries.

While some blood disorders might not cause noticeable symptoms or need treatment, others can be chronic and require medical care.

Blood cancer

Blood cancer affects your blood cells, often originating in the bone marrow where blood is produced. Stem cells in the marrow develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. In blood cancer, an excess of abnormal or cancerous cells disrupts the blood's ability to fight infections or prevent bleeding.

There are three primary types of blood cancers:

Leukemia involves the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells in the blood and bone marrow. These cells fail to combat infections and hinder the production of red blood cells and platelets.

Lymphoma targets the lymphatic system, which manages fluid balance and immune function. It involves abnormal lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, which multiply and accumulate in lymph nodes and other tissues, weakening the immune system.

Myeloma affects plasma cells, which are responsible for producing antibodies that fight infections. Myeloma cells disrupt this antibody production, compromising the immune system's ability to defend against disease.

Sickle cell disease program
Sickle Cell Program

Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder where red blood cells become shaped like crescents or sickles instead of their usual round shape. These sickle-shaped cells can get stuck in blood vessels, blocking blood flow and causing pain, swelling, and other health problems. It’s an inherited condition, meaning it's passed down from parents to their children. It can lead to anemia (not enough red blood cells), infections, and other complications.

Learn more about our Sickle Cell Program
Cancer research
Stem Cell Transplant and Immunotherapy Program

Stem cell transplant services for blood cancer patients involve replacing damaged or unhealthy blood cells with healthy stem cells. This treatment helps rebuild a healthy blood system after the cancer or its treatment has harmed the patient's blood cells. The healthy stem cells grow and produce new, healthy blood cells, which can help the patient recover and fight the cancer more effectively. 

Find out more about this program

Survivorship and support

Inova's Life with Cancer program helps you meet the challenges of living with cancer by providing you and your loved ones with education, information and support, free of charge, no matter where you live or receive treatment.

Explore the many ways that Life with Cancer can make your day-to-day life easier and help you connect with a community of people who face many of the same challenges you do.

Learn more

Support groups

Additional resources

  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia
  • Acute myelogenous leukemia
  • Amyloidosis
  • Anemia
  • Antiphospholipid syndrome
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemias
  • Autoimmune thrombocytopenia
  • Benign hematologic conditions
  • Bleeding disorders
  • Castleman disease
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
  • Chronic myelogenous leukemia
  • Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
  • Cryoglobulinemia
  • Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
  • Essential thrombocythemia
  • Fanconi anemia
  • Hairy cell leukemia
  • Hemoglobinopathies
  • Hemophilia
  • Hereditary hemolytic anemias
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)
  • Hypereosinophilic syndrome
  • Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Large granular lymphocyte disorders
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma
  • Macroglobulinemia
  • Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Myelofibrosis
  • Myeloproliferative disorders
  • Natural killer cell leukemia
  • Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Osteosclerotic myeloma
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
  • POEMS syndrome
  • Polycythemia vera
  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Systemic mastocytosis
  • Thalassemia
  • Thrombocytosis
  • Vitamin deficiency anemia
  • Von Willebrand disease
  • Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
  • White blood cell disorders

Clinical Trials

In addition to providing the latest in innovative care, our specialized team participates in global, national and Inova-initiated clinical trials. We work closely with the Inova Office of Research. Our physicians have recently published research findings in several medical journals.

Our locations

A department of Inova Fairfax Hospital
8081 Innovation Park Drive Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: 571-472-4724
Get Directions See Location Details
Sun Closed
Mon 8:00AM-5:00PM
Tue 8:00AM-5:00PM
Wed 8:00AM-5:00PM
Thu 8:00AM-5:00PM
Fri 8:00AM-5:00PM
Sat Closed