Haematology is the medical specialty concerned with blood, bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Haematologists diagnose and manage conditions ranging from common problems such as iron deficiency and abnormal blood counts through to complex clotting disorders, bone marrow diseases and blood cancers.
Many patients are referred before a diagnosis has been established. A routine blood test may show anaemia, a high or low white cell count, an abnormal platelet count or an unexpected paraprotein, and the role of the haematologist is to determine whether the finding is temporary, benign, inherited or related to an underlying blood disorder. Other patients attend with an established diagnosis requiring treatment, surveillance or a specialist opinion.
Our Melbourne haematologists assess and manage a broad range of malignant and non-malignant blood conditions, including:
Haematologists play an important role in assessing blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, particularly when a clot is unexplained, recurrent or occurs at an unusual site. Care may also involve thrombophilia assessment, decisions about the duration of anticoagulant treatment, management of complex bleeding and clotting risks, and planning around surgery, pregnancy or other situations where anticoagulant medicines may need to be temporarily modified.
Unexplained bruising, excessive bleeding or an abnormal platelet count can have many possible causes. Northern Blood & Cancer Care assesses inherited and acquired bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand disease, immune thrombocytopenia and other platelet conditions. Specialist assessment considers both laboratory findings and the patient’s actual bleeding history, with treatment and procedural planning tailored to the underlying condition and the individual risk of bleeding.
Bone marrow disorders can affect the production of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, sometimes causing one or several blood counts to become abnormal. Our haematologists investigate conditions such as unexplained cytopenias, aplastic anaemia, marrow failure and abnormal bone marrow findings. Where appropriate, bone marrow biopsy and specialised laboratory testing can help distinguish benign conditions from myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms and other haematological disorders.
Inherited blood disorders can affect haemoglobin, clotting proteins, red blood cells or a person’s tendency to develop bleeding or thrombosis. Northern Blood & Cancer Care assesses conditions including thalassaemia, haemoglobinopathies, sickle cell disease and selected inherited bleeding and clotting disorders. Specialist advice may also be useful for carrier screening, family testing, pregnancy planning and understanding how an inherited blood condition may affect future children or other family members.
Pregnancy causes significant changes in blood counts, iron requirements and the clotting system. Our haematologists assess anaemia and iron deficiency, low platelet counts, thrombosis and thrombophilia, inherited blood disorders, bleeding conditions and anticoagulant management during pregnancy. Specialist input can also assist with preconception planning and provide coordinated management around delivery and the post-partum period in collaboration with obstetric, maternal-fetal medicine and anaesthetic teams.
Northern Blood & Cancer Care includes specialists trained in both clinical and laboratory haematology.
This combined expertise is particularly valuable when a diagnosis depends on integrating symptoms and examination findings with blood films, bone marrow findings, flow cytometry, molecular testing and other specialised pathology.
Investigation is tailored to the clinical question and may involve repeat blood testing, blood-film review, specialised coagulation studies, protein studies, flow cytometry, molecular or genetic testing, imaging and bone marrow biopsy. The purpose is to obtain enough information to make a reliable diagnosis without subjecting patients to unnecessary testing.
Where treatment is required, Northern Blood & Cancer Care can coordinate therapies such as iron infusions, blood or IVIG transfusions, venesection and disease-specific haematology treatment through appropriate hospital pathways. The team works closely with Northern Private Hospital, Northern Health and tertiary Melbourne services when higher-complexity care is required.
Northern Blood & Cancer Care brings together a highly experienced team of haematologists, medical oncologists and specialist physicians, with consultations available at Northern Private Hospital in Epping.
Contact our team to arrange an appointment or discuss a referral.
