Leukemia Care

The Rush Approach to Leukemia Care

Over the past few years, the number of treatment options for treating leukemia has continued to increase — offering you more effective options with less intense side effects. Rush’s expert team of leukemia specialists are at the leading edge of these therapies, and we treat a high volume of patients. This level of expertise helps us determine the best treatment plan for you.

Rush specializes in providing the most advanced leukemia treatments available — including targeted therapies, immunotherapies, CAR-T therapy and stem cell transplant — with high response rates. You may also have access to clinical trials at Rush that are looking at novel approaches for treating leukemia.

Typically, you will receive your leukemia treatment as an inpatient in the hospital. We understand the personal challenges of an inpatient treatment plan. During your treatment, we'll address not only your physical needs, but also the emotional stress and anxiety that come with intensive inpatient care.

Because time is of the essence when it comes to starting leukemia treatment, we can get you in to see a leukemia specialist at Rush within 24 hours of your call.

Rush Excellence in Leukemia Care

• Smooth transition from inpatient to outpatient: We will work closely with you and your loved ones to make your transition from inpatient to outpatient care as smooth as possible. We have a dedicated nurse coordinator who will help coordinate your follow-up appointments and guide you through your outpatient care.
• Molecular profiling for leukemia: Our team performs molecular profiling — which analyzes your unique genetic makeup — on all newly diagnosed patients to help your care team make personalized treatment recommendations and decisions that will be most effective for you.
• Outstanding stem cell transplant outcomes: You may need a stem cell transplant as part of your leukemia treatment. The bone marrow and stem cell transplant program at Rush has excellent outcomes, with a 100% survival rate for the first 180 days after transplant. The program is also accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) — the highest level of accreditation that recognizes Rush’s compliance with quality standards for cell collection, laboratory processing and transplantation.
• Supportive oncology care: At Rush, you will have access to the supportive oncology services, which offers integrative therapies to complement traditional leukemia treatments. The program offers psychosocial counseling, nutritional counseling, acupuncture and massage. The team can also connect you to other resources, such as financial counseling and transportation assistance, to help you and your family through the physical, social and emotional challenges of leukemia treatment. Waterford Place at Rush Copley Medical Center offers free supportive services to anyone who is diagnosed with cancer.
• Care right when you need it: We know how important it is to start treatment quickly when you have leukemia. You can see a leukemia specialist at Rush within 24 hours of your call. We also work closely with our emergency department and referring physicians outside of Rush to ensure that patients who need to transfer leukemia care to Rush are seen as quickly as possible.
• Follow-up care and infusion centers close to you: While you'll receive inpatient treatment and stem cell transplants at Rush University Medical Center, you can do your infusion treatments and follow-up appointments at locations across Chicago and the suburbs.
• A team focused on you: You may receive care through The Coleman Foundation Comprehensive Leukemia Clinic at Rush University Medical Center. In this clinic, your care team — which may include hematologists, bone marrow transplant physicians, radiologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, advanced practice providers and others — brings their collective expertise together to develop an individualized treatment plan for you.