Blood cancer specialists in Austin, Texas

Important information


CDC guidance now recommends that moderately to severely immunocompromised patients receive an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna). If you have undergone anti-cancer therapy in the past year, you are within 1 year of stem cell transplantation or are receiving medications that suppress your immune system, you are encouraged to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination booster shot. If you are within 100 days of a stem cell transplantation, we do not recommend that you receive a COVID-19 vaccination until you are cleared by your care team to do so. If you are currently on a clinical research trial with CBCI or elsewhere, please contact your clinical research team for more guidance. Please contact your care coordinator if you have additional questions about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.

At St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, we offer access to oncology specialists who are trained to accurately diagnose and treat many types of blood cancers, such as lymphoma and leukemia. We offer advanced treatments, including immunotherapy and radiation therapy, to provide patients with a variety of options for healing.

Additionally, we offer the area's only bone marrow transplant program providing patients with blood cancer access to comprehensive care close to home.

For more information about our cancer care, please call askSARAH at (512) 840-6032.

Advanced blood cancer center

The Sarah Cannon Blood Cancer Center at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center is uniquely structured to address the needs of patients in Central Texas. This is because we have brought together recognized physician leadership in oncology from the Texas Transplant Institute at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, the Sarah Cannon Blood Cancer Network and Texas Oncology.

This highly skilled team provides patients in the Austin area with a wide array of cancer services, including blood and marrow transplants, allowing them to receive specialized care. It also features physicians and nurses specially trained to treat cancer patients, customized oncology technology and oncology-trained nurse navigators, as well as nutrition and education services for cancer patients.

Outpatient blood cancer clinic

We offer an outpatient clinic for adult patients who have blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma—as well as those who have received or will receive a blood and marrow transplant. The clinic provides patients with an outside entrance so they do not have to walk through the main hospital to get to the clinic while in an immunocompromised state.

Dedicated blood cancer team

To ensure patients receive an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan, our blood cancer team takes a multidisciplinary approach to care.

Our care team includes:

  • Dietitians
  • Hematologists
  • Oncologists
  • Social workers
  • Transplant nurses
  • Transplant nurse coordinators
  • Transplant psychologists

Blood cancer symptoms

Common blood cancer symptoms may include:

  • Easy bruising
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fatigue
  • Fever

If you are experiencing these symptoms, speak to your doctor. Laboratory testing, bone marrow biopsies and imaging exams are common tests to confirm a blood cancer diagnosis.

Blood cancers we treat

Our doctors are experienced in treating a wide range of blood cancers, including:

  • Aplastic anemia
  • Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Leukemia, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
  • Myeloma, including multiple myeloma

Blood cancer treatment

The type of blood cancer treatment you receive depends on the type of cancer you have, your overall health and other factors.

Common treatments for blood cancers include:

  • Blood transfusion
  • Immunotherapy, including chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Stem cell transplant

Blood and marrow transplants

One option for treating blood cancer is to perform a blood and marrow transplant. This treatment involves a person's abnormal stem cells are replaced with healthy cells—either from another part of their body (autologous transplant) or from another person (allogenic transplant). The procedure allows the patient to receive new cells that function properly.

If you are referred to one of our centers for a blood and marrow or stem cell transplant, a provider and nurse coordinator will meet with you to answer all of your questions. Your nurse coordinator will help you prepare for each step in the transplant process. If an allogeneic transplant is required, additional testing will be performed to assist in locating a donor.

About Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute

As part of Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare, our family of hospitals provides comprehensive cancer services with convenient access to cutting-edge therapies for people facing cancer in our communities. From diagnosis to treatment and survivorship care, our oncology expertise ensures you have access to locally trusted care with the support of a globally recognized network.

askSARAH helpline

Have cancer questions? We can help. askSARAH is a dedicated helpline for your cancer-related questions. Our specially trained nurses are available 24/7, and all calls are confidential. Contact askSARAH at (512) 840-6032.