Myeloproliferative neoplasms overview

It’s important to be evaluated thoroughly soon after diagnosis (or even with a suspected diagnosis) of MPN to determine where you are in the spectrum of these diseases and devise an individualized long-range management plan. Our team provides state-of-the-art evaluation, including using new research tools to pinpoint your diagnosis if it is still in question.

Before your first visit, your team will have reviewed your pathology slides (tissue samples from any biopsies), if available, and any scans or tests you have already had. The team may also want to repeat one or more of the tests since these diseases are progressive and our recommendations can be most meaningful to you if they are based on the most up-to-date results.

If you do not live in or near Seattle, we may ask your referring doctor to arrange for additional tests or scans so that these results are available before your appointment at SCCA. However, bone marrow tests are best done at our center. This allows us to base our recommendations on the most up-to-date information about your bone marrow. Also, our doctors and nurses do these tests almost daily and are truly experts.

During your first visit to SCCA, you will meet with your doctor, a hematologist who specializes in caring for people with blood diseases. Together you will go over your medical history and your current problem. This will usually be followed by a physical exam. Then you will sit down for a conference with your doctor and other members of your health care team to discuss a treatment plan.

We will give you information about what medical science has to offer, and we will explain how the various options should be used in your particular situation.

This visit usually lasts one to two hours. You are encouraged to bring a list of questions with you, and we recommend that you bring a friend or family member with you to your appointment for emotional support and to help you keep track of the information your team will be giving you. 

If you have been referred to SCCA with a diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis) of MPN, you will most likely be seen at the medical oncology clinic on the fourth floor of the SCCA clinic. Our doctors also see patients on the sixth floor.

You may need to visit your doctor on a regular basis to check your health. During these visits your doctor will give you a physical exam and may give you tests to detect signs of disease. These may include blood tests, imaging procedures, and assessments of your bone marrow. Follow-up visits are also a good time to talk with your doctor about how to manage any side effects you may have from your treatment. Your doctor will explain how often you need to visit.