Dr. Ilya Kirzhner

“I often tell people – if you’re even thinking about it, it’s probably time. I meet many patients who waited too long because they thought it would pass. If your blood tests are unclear, you’ve had fatigue for weeks, bruises show up for no reason, or your lymph nodes are swollen – don’t wait. A quick checkup and some tests can save a lot of stress later. More than once I’ve heard patients say, ‘I wish I came in earlier.’”

“Absolutely. Even if you’ve started treatment, it’s worth reviewing everything carefully. I go over all the lab results, explain what they mean in plain words, and see if there’s room to adjust or add newer options. Sometimes, even a small change in the plan can make a big difference.”

“People get those two mixed up all the time. And I get why – they sound alike. But they’re really not the same. Lymphoma starts in the lymph nodes; myeloma’s from plasma cells in the bone marrow. Two different spots, two different problems. And because of that, the way we treat them isn’t the same either – sometimes it’s chemo, sometimes newer drugs, sometimes even a transplant. When I explain it like that, people usually say, ‘Ah, okay, now I see it.’”

“It’s not a quick call, honestly. I look at everything – blood tests, biopsy, scans, even the person’s overall health. Sometimes the newer meds are enough, and you don’t need transplant at all. Other times? It’s the best shot at really getting control. I always sit down with patients, go over the risks and what it means step by step. It’s a big decision, and I make sure they truly get it.”

“I tell patients it’s like training your own immune system to fight smarter. We take your cells, rework them, and put them back in to go after the cancer. Sounds futuristic, right? But it’s here, and it works for some tough lymphomas and leukemias. Not everyone’s a match, though – so we go through your records, your tests, and see if it’s even on the table for you.”

“Most people only find out there’s a clotting issue when something bad happens – like a clot or bleeding that’s hard to stop. I’d rather check before that. I recommend it before big surgery, during pregnancy, or if there’s family history of clots or bleeding. It’s a quick test that can save you a lot of trouble later.”

“Yeah, it could. Fatigue is probably one of the things I hear about the most. Sometimes it’s just low iron – easy fix. But sometimes it’s tied to things like myeloma or leukemia. When tiredness keeps going for weeks, I usually start with simple blood work. A lot of times, by the next day, we already know what’s going on.”