Blood disorders

Care team

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, we surround you with experts who focus completely on cancer, day in and day out.

A handful of people form the core of your care team. You have an oncologist who specializes in your disease, and a registered nurse. At some visits, you might see an advanced practice provider. A patience care coordinator schedules your visits. Others join your team based on your personal needs. We have specialists based at Fred Hutch who know the issues that matter for people with cancer whether it’s helping control side effects to supportive care. They all work together – and with you – to provide support and treatment.

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. 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.

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)

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 coordinate your treatment and can see you independently from your physician. They 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 oversees your medicine-based treatments. Most people with NHL begin treatment by getting chemotherapy. Some people get targeted therapy or immunotherapy. If watchful waiting is right for you, you see this physician on a regular schedule to check your health and, if needed, start treatment.

Your hematologist-oncologist:

Sees you during your first visit. They evaluate you and order any tests you need to diagnose or stage your disease.
Explains what your diagnosis and stage mean, and answers your questions.
Recommends treatments to match your specific case. They select the medicines, doses, schedule and sequence. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
Sees you on a regular schedule to check how your cancer responds to treatment and how you are overall.
Offers you ways to prevent, relieve and cope with side effects of treatment — like medicine to help with nausea.
Coordinates 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. Stage The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. 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. Watchful waiting Closely watching a patient’s condition but not giving treatment unless symptoms appear or change. During watchful waiting, patients may be given certain tests and exams. Closely watching a patient’s condition but not giving treatment unless symptoms appear or change. Watchful waiting is sometimes used in conditions that progress slowly. It is also used when the risks of treatment are greater than the possible benefits. During watchful waiting, patients may be given certain tests and exams. Watchful waiting is sometimes used in prostate cancer. It is a type of expectant management.

Infusion nurse

You receive any infusions in a dedicated area of the clinic. Cancer nurses who specialize in infusions give these treatments. They also check 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 serve as your scheduler.

Registered nurse (RN)

Your nurse manages your care alongside your physician. They also assist with procedures and treatments. Nurses are resources for you and your caregiver. They answer questions and help with 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, a naturopath and an acupuncturist.

Learn More About Supportive Care Services

Transplant team

If you need a bone marrow transplant, you have a specialized team from the Fred Hutchinson Bone Marrow Transplant Program. Your team includes a transplant oncologist, transplant nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, team coordinator and social worker. This team:

Evaluates you (and your donor, if you need one).
Selects a transplant approach to match your specific case.
Prepares you and your caregiver.
Performs your transplant.
Provides care as you recover.

Bone marrow The soft, spongy material in the center of your bones that produces all your blood cells, such as white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Bone marrow transplant The process of treating disease with high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both. Bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells are given after treatment to help the body make more blood cells. The process of treating disease with high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both. Because this treatment destroys the bone marrow’s ability to produce blood cells, bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells are given after treatment to help the body make more blood cells. 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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