Who is in your Healthcare team?

Following a diagnosis of CLL the names and contact details of a consultant, clinical nurse specialist and other members of a healthcare team should be provided

Consultant

Most patients with a blood cancer are treated by a haematologist – a doctor who specialises in treating patients with blood diseases.

Some patients are treated by an oncologist – a cancer specialist.

Either way the consultant at the hospital will be an expert in treating your specific disease.

Clinical nurse specialist

All cancer patients are normally given a key worker, usually a clinical nurse specialist who will work with the patients right through their cancer journey.

They are the main point of contact with the rest of the healthcare team.

Patients may like to have a meeting with the clinical nurse specialist when first diagnosed, to discuss the condition.

Multidisciplinary team

When diagnosed with CLL a multidisciplinary team (MDT) should assess each case, bringing together the specialist staff (e.g. doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dieticians).

A consultant usually leads the meetings, which are held regularly. They’ll discuss the best treatment options and every aspect of care, including any changes to the patient’s condition.