Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) / Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)
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Your Healthcare Team
Your healthcare team are the medical professionals who will support and guide you through your chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and be on hand to answer any questions that you might have at any stage of your diagnosis.
Understanding your healthcare team
Your healthcare team will be made up of several specialist healthcare professionals and may be referred to as a multidisciplinary team (MDT). They may be:
A haematologist is a doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating blood disorders, including some cancers. They will oversee your care throughout your treatment. They may work alongside oncologists. In some cases, an oncologist may lead the treatment team.
A pathologist is a doctor who studies cells and body tissues.
The palliative care team works closely with the oncology team to prevent and treat the symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment. They are particularly helpful when a person is experiencing pain, discomfort or other symptoms despite treatment already being administered.
Oncology nurses are nurses who specialise in the treatment of cancer patients. Haematology nurses are nurses who specialise in the treatment of patients with blood disorders. Both of their roles will range from giving physical examinations and administering chemotherapy or other medication, to coordinating care with the oncology team and providing education and support to patients and their families.
An oncologist is a doctor who specialises in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. They will oversee your care throughout your treatment. You may have more than one oncologist during your treatment. You may also have a haematologist. Sometimes a haematologist will take the place of an oncologist, as they tend to specialise in blood cancers and treatments.
A radiologist is a medical doctor who uses imaging to help diagnose disease.
A radiotherapist operates the machines that administer radiotherapy treatment and work with the oncologist to plan and deliver your treatment.
Cardiologists diagnose, assess and treat patients with defects and diseases of the heart and the blood vessels. For CLL patients they can help manage some of the side effects of treatment.
You may also see a variety of health or social care professionals, such as a physiotherapist, dietitian, occupational therapist, radiographer (someone who specialises in human imaging - e.g. x-rays), or a counsellor or psychologist.
What to expect at your consultations
When you go for your consultations with your haematologist, they will conduct a thorough examination and ask you questions about your current feelings and wellbeing. They will also review your scans and results of any tests you may have had prior.
It can be helpful to write down any questions, thoughts or feelings that you’ve had before your appointment, so that you can discuss them with your doctor or care team. Appointments can be quite overwhelming at times and having notes can help you stay focused. It may help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you are feeling and have them join you at your appointments to take notes.
Questions to ask your healthcare team
Below are some questions that can be useful to ask:
- How advanced is my disease? How would I have known if I had it sooner?
- What treatments can I start?
- How long will my treatment last?
- What will the side effects be?
- Can I join a clinical trial?
- What tests will I need to have?
- What will the tests show?
- How long will the results take?
- How common is CLL?
- Is there anything I should or shouldn’t eat?
- How will this affect me in my everyday life?
- Where can I get financial support and help?
- I need help dealing with my feelings – where can I go?
- Are you able to direct me to some support groups?