Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Care team

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, we surround you with experts who focus completely on cancer care. A handful of people make up the core of your care team. You will have a hematologist-oncologist and a registered nurse who are experienced in caring for people with ALL. At some visits, you might see an advanced practice provider. Most patients get part of their treatment from infusion nurses. A patient care coordinator will schedule your visits.

Hematologist A physician who specializes in diseases of the blood and blood-forming tissues. Infusion An injection of medications or fluids into a vein over a period of time.

Others join your team based on your personal needs. If you need a blood or marrow transplant, we have experts in these treatments. If you get a new health issue that might affect your cancer treatment, we call in the right experts. For example, if you have skin, heart or digestive problems, we might call in a dermatologist, cardiologist or gastroenterologist. We have specialists based at Fred Hutch who know how to handle the issues that matter for people with cancer.

Supportive care providers are also here to help. You may see Fred Hutch dietitians, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers and others. All of them specialize in caring for people during and after cancer.

Gastroenterologist Gastroenterologists are trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal system, including cancers of the liver, pancreas, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum and anus.

“Among nurses, attending physicians and APPs, we’re always discussing each patient and their specific needs at any given point, looking forward in their treatment and planning ahead so that we’re anticipating their needs and any changes that might happen. There’s definitely a good team dynamic.”

— Christen N. Martino, ARNP, lymphoma survivor

Your care team

Meet the caring, dedicated people who take care of you and your family at Fred Hutch.

What each team member does

Advanced practice provider (APP)

Advanced practiced providers have training that is similar to physicians and can see you without your physician. At Fred Hutch, these health care professionals work closely with your hematologist-oncologist in the clinic. There are two types: physician assistants (PAs) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs). They help provide and plan your treatment and also help manage the effects of your disease and treatment.

Hematologist A physician who specializes in diseases of the blood and blood-forming tissues. Nurse practitioner A registered nurse who has additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat disease. In cancer care, a nurse practitioner may manage the primary care of patients and their families. A registered nurse who has additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat disease. Nurse practitioners are licensed at the state level and certified by national nursing organizations. In cancer care, a nurse practitioner may manage the primary care of patients and their families, based on a practice agreement with a physician. Physician assistant A health professional who is licensed to do certain medical procedures under the guidance of a physician. A health professional who is licensed to do certain medical procedures under the guidance of a physician. A physician assistant may take medical histories, do physical exams, take blood and urine samples, care for wounds and give injections and immunizations.

Hematologist-oncologist

This physician manages your medicine-based treatments. Most people with ALL begin treatment by getting intense chemotherapy. Some people get targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

Your hematologist-oncologist will:

See you during your first visit. They will give you an exam and order any tests you need to diagnose or classify your disease.
Explain what your diagnosis and classification mean and answer your questions.
Recommend medicines, doses, schedule and sequence to match your exact needs. They will also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
See you on a regular schedule to check how your cancer responds to treatment and how you are overall.
Offer you ways to prevent, relieve and cope with side effects of treatment, like medicine to help with nausea.
Work with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

Chemotherapy Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It may be given alone or with other treatments. Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, infusion or on the skin, depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. It may be given alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy or biologic therapy. Hematologist A physician who specializes in diseases of the blood and blood-forming tissues. Immunotherapy A type of therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection and other diseases. A therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection and other diseases. Some immunotherapies only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and some monoclonal antibodies. Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores. Targeted therapy A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells while causing less harm to normal cells. A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells while causing less harm to normal cells. Some targeted therapies block the action of certain enzymes, proteins or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Other types of targeted therapies help the immune system kill cancer cells, or they deliver toxic substances directly to cancer cells and kill them. Targeted therapy may have fewer side effects than other types of cancer treatment. Most targeted therapies are either small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies.

Infusion nurse

Infusions happen in a special area of the clinic. Cancer nurses who are experts in infusions give these treatments. They will also watch over you during each infusion. They respond to any medical issues that come up and help keep you comfortable.

Infusion An injection of medications or fluids into a vein over a period of time. Infusion An injection of medications or fluids into a vein over a period of time.

Patient care coordinator

Your patient care coordinator works closely with you and your physician. They will schedule your appointments.

Registered nurse (RN)

Your nurse manages your care with your physician. They also help with procedures and treatments. Nurses are resources for you and your caregiver. They can answer questions on a wide range of topics, like how to cope with side effects or get other services you need at Fred Hutch.

Caregiver A person who gives care to people who need help, such as children, older people or patients who have chronic illnesses or disabilities. A person who gives care to people who need help taking care of themselves, such as children, older people or patients who have chronic illnesses or disabilities. Caregivers may be health professionals, family members, friends, social workers or members of the clergy. They may give care at home, in a hospital or in another health care setting. Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores.

Supportive care services

Many types of supportive care team members are here to help you and your family. They include dietitians, physical therapists, pain medicine specialists, psychologists, social workers, spiritual health staff, palliative care specialists, naturopaths and acupuncturists.

Supportive Care Services

Transplant team

If you need a blood or marrow transplant, you will have a specialized team from the Fred Hutch Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. Your team includes a transplant oncologist, advanced practice provider, transplant nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, team coordinator and social worker. This team will:

Give you an exam (and your donor, if you need one).
Decide on a transplant approach to match your case.
Prepare you and your caregiver.
Do your transplant.
Provide care as you recover.

Your Blood and Marrow Transplant Team

Caregiver A person who gives care to people who need help, such as children, older people or patients who have chronic illnesses or disabilities. A person who gives care to people who need help taking care of themselves, such as children, older people or patients who have chronic illnesses or disabilities. Caregivers may be health professionals, family members, friends, social workers or members of the clergy. They may give care at home, in a hospital or in another health care setting. Oncologist A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment, such as treating cancer with radiation. A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation.

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