Center for Prevention of Progression

The goal of the Center for Prevention of Progression is to increase early detection of blood cancers and their precursor conditions, and improve treatment options for patients with precursor conditions. Our multidisciplinary approach to care ensures patients benefit from the care of hematologist-oncologists who are experts in precursor conditions, genetic counseling, advanced diagnostics, individualized risk assessment, access to clinical research studies, social support and more.

Advanced diagnostics

Our Center offers advanced diagnostic and sequencing technology to diagnose and assess each patient's condition. When appropriate, patients will have blood and tissue sampling (e.g. bone marrow biopsies). Analysis of these samples help our precursor specialists provide patients with individualized assessments of their risk of progression to blood cancers, discuss therapies and lifestyle changes that impact blood cancer risk, and match interested patients with appropriate therapeutic clinical trials.

Condition-specific expertise

Patients meet with a hematologist-oncologist with an in-depth knowledge of their specific precursor condition. The hematologist-oncologist will perform an individualized assessment of the patient’s risk for developing a blood cancer and work with the patient to identify the best management option.

Genetic counseling

Patients may be referred to an experienced genetic counselor discusses a patient’s personal and family health history, cancer risk, additional cancer screening recommendations and potential strategies to lower the risk of progression.

Research opportunities

Patients may be offered the chance to participate in clinical research. This may include tissue banking studies such as PCROWD, screening studies such as PROMISE, as well as trials evaluating the effectiveness of novel therapies and lifestyle modifications on preventing progression to blood cancer.

Referral to specialists

Patients with precursor conditions may also be at risk of developing non-cancer diseases. For example:

• Patients with CHIP and CCUS are at an increased risk of developing heart disease such as heart attack or stroke. These patients are referred to a cardiologist who specializes in the care of precursor patients for an intensive preventative cardiology evaluation to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
• Patients with MGUS may be referred to a nephrologist to evaluate symptoms related to kidney function or to a neurologist if they experience peripheral neuropathy.

Our hematologist-oncologists will discuss these risks with each patient to determine if specialist referrals are necessary.

Social support

Psychologists and social workers are available by referral to offer patients resources and support.