Hematologic and Medical Oncology |
Cancer and Hematology Treatment Options in Flint

Specialized Treatment for Cancer and Hematologic Conditions

man having treatment

Specialized Drug Therapy for Cancer

Drug therapies are often part of a cancer patient’s treatment plan. Our medical oncologists at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint may utilize chemotherapy, hormone blocking therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy drugs, antibodies, and more to eradicate cancer cells. These therapies may often be part of a treatment plan that could also include surgery to remove cancerous cells, radiation therapy, or proton therapy. The decision to use drug therapies to treat your cancer will be a decision made between you and your cancer care team, which will include your medical oncologist at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint.

Benign Hematology

Our medical oncology team is also specialized in benign hematology and can treat patients with non-cancerous blood disorders. Some of those disorders may be anemias (iron-deficiency anemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, etc.), bleeding disorders (hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, etc.), and blood clots (hypercoaguable state, deep venous thrombosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation), among many more.

Meet Our Medical Oncology Team

    • Image of Orimisan Samuel Adekolujo , M.D., MBA, FACP

      Orimisan Samuel Adekolujo, M.D., MBA, FACP

      Oncology - Hematology, Oncology - Medical
      View Profile
    • Image of Sandeep Grewal , M.D.

      Sandeep Grewal, M.D.

      Oncology - Hematology, Oncology - Medical
      View Profile
Cancers Treated Types of Treatment Call for An Appointment or More Information

Ready to schedule an appointment, or have additional questions?

*Indicates required information

Contact Information

Hematologic and Medical Oncology
Cancer and Hematology Treatment Options in Flint

Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint

4100 Beecher Rd, Suite B
Flint, MI 48532
810-235-8568
Hours: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Call For Appointment Get Directions

Types of Medical Cancer Treatments

Antibodies

Antibodies used for cancer treatment, also referred to monoclonal antibodies, can be used in multiple ways – two examples of how they are used are as targeted therapies or immunotherapy. As a targeted therapy, antibodies can be used to interact with specific cells in the body. As an immunotherapy, some antibodies may be used to make certain cancer cells standout, so the immune system recognizes them and destroys them.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer, also known as “anticancer” drugs. These drugs are made to kill fast-growing cells and may also be used to keep the cancer from spreading, slow the cancer’s growth, kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body from the original tumor, and relieve symptoms that may be caused by cancer.

Hormone Blocking Therapy

Hormonal therapy is the use of hormones (substances in our body produced by an organ or gland) to trigger an increase in function or activity of another body part or increase release of another hormone. Hormones are used in certain cancers that respond to stimulation of specific hormones. They may be used in cancers of the breast, cervix, kidney, skin (malignant melanoma), ovary, and prostate.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment option that uses the body’s natural defense mechanism, the immune system, to fight diseases including cancer. Immunotherapy works by:

  • Stimulating your own immune system to work harder
  • Slowing the growth and/or spread of tumors
  • Enhancing normal immune system functions with proteins that improve immune system function
Targeted Therapy Drugs

Targeted therapy drugs can target the bad elements, or the cancer cells, while sparing normal cells that are not diseased. These drugs are in a pill form.

Cancers Treated

Any cancer can be treated with drug therapies. You will make the decision, along with your cancer care team, whether medical treatments are needed as part of your treatment plan. A brief list of cancers that our medical oncologists specialize in are:

Hematologic Oncology and Heme Malignancies

Hematologic cancers are blood cancers. The cancer forms in bone marrow, where blood is formed and can also affect lymph nodes. Below are the most common types of hematologic cancers:

  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma
  • Multiple Myeloma
Bone/Musculoskeletal Cancers

These cancers form in bone tissue. They can be malignant, benign, or metastatic. The primary bone cancers that our medical oncologists treat, but are not limited to treating are:

  • Chondrosarcoma
  • Chordoma
  • Ewing Sarcoma
  • Osteosarcoma
Breast Cancer

To list types of breast cancers, in a limited amount: Carcinomas and adenocarcinomas, in situ and invasive breast cancers (such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive breast cancer (ILC or IDC), inflammatory breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, paget disease of the breast, angiosarcoma and phyllodes tumor.

GI Malignancies

Gastrointestinal malignancies may begin in the organs that food and liquids travel through in the body. Our medical oncologists treat patients with the following GI malignancies, but this list is not limited to:

  • Anal Cancer
  • Appendix Cancer
  • Bile Duct Cancer
  • Cancer of Unknown Origin or Primary
  • Carcinoid Tumors
  • Cholangiocarcinoma
  • Colorectal Cancer (colon, rectal cancers)
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Gallbladder Cancer
  • Gastric Cancer (stomach cancer)
  • Liver Cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Small intestine cancer
Genitourinary Cancers

Cancers that form in the urinary or genital organs are called genitourinary cancers:

  • Bladder Cancer
  • Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer
  • Penile Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Urethral Cancer
Germ Cell Tumors

Germ cell tumors usually form in reproductive organs and rarely form elsewhere. The name comes from the term “germinate.” This growth can get out of control and form a tumor. Some germ cell tumors are cancerous, and some are not. There are five main types of germ cell tumors:

  • Choriocarcinoma
  • Embryonal carcinoma
  • Germinomas
  • Teratomas
  • Yolk sac tumors
Gynecologic Cancers

Our medical oncologists work with the gynecologic oncology team to provide comprehensive treatment plans for women who have gynecologic cancers. The list of cancers our team treats is not limited to:

  • Cervical Cancer
  • Fallopian Tube Cancer
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Primary Peritoneal Cancer
  • Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer
  • Vaginal Cancer
  • Vulvar Cancer
Head & Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancers, as the name entails, are cancers that begin in the cells, glands, muscles, and nerves located in the head and neck region. Some of the head and neck cancers that our medical oncologists treat are:

  • Esophageal cancer
  • Laryngeal cancer
  • Lip/Oral cavity (hard palate) cancer
  • Nasopharyngeal cancer
  • Neck Cancer
  • Nose Cancer
  • Oropharynx (soft palate) cancer
  • Salivary Gland Cancer
  • Sinus Cancer
  • Throat Cancer
  • Thyroid Cancer
Respiratory/Thoracic Cancers

These cancers are located in the chest area, or among organs, glands, or structures of the thoracic area.

  • Lung Cancer
  • Mesothelioma
  • Thymoma
  • Tracheal Cancer
Skin Cancers

Skin cancers occur when cancer forms in skin cells. There are multiple types of skin cancers that our medical oncologists treat, but the list is not limited to:

  • Basal Cell Cancers
  • Squamous Cell Carcinomas
  • Melanomas
  • Merkel Cell Cancer
  • Skin Adnexal Tumors
  • Sarcomas

Part of the Karmanos Cancer Network

The Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint is part of the Karmanos Cancer Network, the largest cancer research and provider network in Michigan with 16 treatment locations throughout the state. Karmanos Cancer Institute, headquartered in Detroit, is a McLaren Health Care subsidiary, and one of two National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in Michigan. It is one of just 51 cancer centers of its kind in the United States.