Haematology is the specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of blood diseases. It deals with a variety of blood diseases, both related to blood cancers (malignant) or unrelated to cancer (non-malignant). It is a specialty which lends itself to collaboration, and haematologists are often able to assist other doctors to care for patients with a blood-related problem.

As a haematologist, I have skills which enable me to diagnose and treat all blood diseases. I use my laboratory skills to perform and interpret a variety of tests and use my clinical skills to treat your condition. Broadly speaking, the blood diseases I treat include:

MALIGNANT DISEASES

• Leukaemia

• Lymphoma

• Multiple myeloma

• Bone marrow disorders including myelodysplasia, aplastic anaemia

• Myeloproliferative disorders including chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), polycythaemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythaemia (ET), myelofibrosis (PMF)

• Autologous bone marrow transplant

• Allogeneic bone marrow transplant (accessed via haematologists at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney)

NON-MALIGNANT DISEASES

• Red cell disorders including anaemia, inherited red cell disorders (eg: thalassaemia), vitamin B12/ folate deficiencies, haemolytic anaemias

• Iron disorders including iron deficiency anaemia and iron infusion administration, iron overload states including haemochromatosis

• Platelet disorders including immune thrombocytopaenia (ITP), von Willebrand disease (vWD)

• Clotting conditions including perioperative blood clots, inherited clotting disorders, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary emboli (PE)

• Bleeding conditions including haemophilia, clotting factor deficiencies

• Anticoagulant management (management of patients on blood thinning medication) and reversing the bleeding effect of blood thinning medication

• Obstetric haematology (management of women with blood problems during pregnancy and birth)

• Blood transfusion issues including the best use of blood products, patient blood management, administration of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg)

• Perioperative management of patients with blood issues around the time of surgery