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Office and Urgent Care Closures

The Somers lab is temporarily closed on December 13-16, 2024. Please visit our nearest lab draw stations located in Jefferson Valley and Katonah or view a complete list of our lab draw stations.

Cardiology-Jersey City is temporarily closed, while Cardiology-Newark is closed permanently.

The Croton-on-Hudson lab is temporarily closed until further notice.

As of November 20,  the Urgent Care in Carmel,  has moved to 100 Independent Way, Brewster NY.

Updates

Effective December 12, 2024, Dr. Pierce will no longer be practicing obstetrics & gynecology out of 1985 Crompond Road, building B. She is continuing to see patients at Jefferson Valley and Yorktown Heights only.

As of December 20, 2024, Dr. Weinfeld will no longer be practicing podiatry out of 48 US 6 in Yorktown Heights and he has moved full time to Jefferson Valley.

As of December 12, 2024, Dr. Fijman will no longer be practicing pulmonology and sleep medicine out of 310 North Highland Avenue, Suite 4 in Ossining and he will be re-locating full time to Jefferson Valley.

As of December 12, 2024, Dorothy Adler is no longer be practicing obstetrics & gynecology out of 1985 Crompond Road, building B. She is continuing to see patients at Jefferson Valley only.

As of November 18,  Stacey Radinsky, MD has moved her practice to Bethpage.

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Home ❯ Services and specialties ❯ Leukemia

Understanding your risk

Like other cancers, your risk depends on many variables, including:

  • Contracting HPV (Human papillomavirus)
  • Family history
  • Lifestyle behaviors (e.g. smoking, diet and exercise)
  • Overall health
  • Age (most common in those over the age of 55, or for children under 15)

At Optum, our oncology team offers comprehensive cancer risk assessments and hereditary cancer genetics evaluation programs to help you identify your risk. Start our online hereditary assessment now ›

Symptoms

Leukemia is a disease that shows no obvious symptoms, especially early on. In most cases, patients who are diagnosed with leukemia find indicators during physical exams or routine blood testing. Some patients who do exhibit symptoms often have:

  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Pale skin
  • Swollen gums
  • Chronic fatigue

Diagnosing leukemia

Diagnosing leukemia is a multi-step process because there are several types of the disease. If your doctors suspects you have leukemia, they will order the following tests:

  • Blood test: The blood will be tested for an abnormal white cell count, which can be an indication of leukemia.
  • Biopsy: During a biopsy, bone marrow from the pelvic bone is removed and tested to confirm that leukemia has developed. The type of leukemia is also determined.

Types of leukemia

Leukemia is categorized as acute or chronic. Acute leukemia is fast growing and tends to get worse quickly. Chronic leukemia develops at a much slower rate.

Types
Description
Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia
This aggressive type affects lymphoid cells, which are white blood cells that provide immune response. It is also the most common form of leukemia found in children.
Acute myeloid leukemia
This aggressive form of leukemia encourages the development of too many immature white cells, and typically results in too few red cells being produced.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
This form is a slow growing cancer of the lymphoid cells. It typically affects those who are 55 years of age or older, and is rarely found in children.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia
This form is similar to acute myeloid leukemia, but is much slower to develop.

Treatment

The treatment options for leukemia depend on the stage of the disease. Some of the most common treatment options include:

  • Chemotherapy: chemicals administered in pill or IV form to kill and slow the growth of cancer cells.
  • Radiation therapy: high-powered beams of energy, such as X-rays and protons that are used to kill and slow the growth of cancer cells.
  • Targeted therapy: drugs that attack specific abnormalities within cancer cells or by directing your immune system to kill cancer cells.

Medical care and help

To find a leukemia specialist near you, visit our Providers page.

Learn more about our minimally-invasive robotic assisted surgery options.

Contact us if you have any questions.

Medical Care and Help

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