Build Your CLL / SLL Care Team
Your Care Team Members
A CLL EXPERT
A CLL expert is a physician who differs from a general hematologist / oncologist in that he or she has expanded expertise, experience, and access to the latest CLL therapies, clinical trials, and best practices. The CLL expert is like the quarterback of the team, calling the plays. There is a documented survival advantage to being in the care of a CLL expert. A good starting place for finding one is CLL Society’s List of CLL Experts who have been recommended by the CLL community.
A LOCAL EXPERT
A general hematologist / oncologist can manage your ongoing care. They are often more available and can be indispensable in an emergency. The local expert may treat many different cancers and so may not have a great depth of knowledge about CLL. It is ideal to have both a local expert and a CLL expert on your team.
Other doctors as needed: primary care, dermatologist (skin cancers are common in CLL), and other specialists as determined by co-morbidities.
A CAREGIVER
Patients who has a strong and supportive caregiver on their team can have far better treatment outcomes. A caregiver is often a family member or close friend who supports you by attending your most important doctor visits, taking notes or recording the consults, being a sounding board for your concerns, helping you adhere to medication timetables and dosages, keeping you in a positive state of mind, and advocating for your best possible care.
A CLL-SPECIFIC SUPPORT GROUP
Often the best advice comes from the hard-earned wisdom and emotional balance that can only be offered by fellow CLL patients and caregivers who have already experienced the challenges you are facing or the therapy you are considering. Additionally, support group members often have deep knowledge about local services and the quality of care provided. Our CLL-specific support groups hold (virtual) meetings monthly. Don’t spend another month alone. Join one today!
Register for a CLL Society CLL-specific (virtual) support group near you.
Get started building your CLL care team with this handy form!
We are all in this together!
ADDITIONAL READING
RECENT NEWS
Build Your Care Team.
Your Care Team Members
A CLL EXPERT
A CLL expert is a physician who differs from a general hematologist/oncologist in that he or she has expanded expertise, experience, and access to the latest CLL therapies, clinical trials, and best practices. The CLL expert is like the quarterback of the team, calling the plays. There is a documented survival advantage to being in the care of a CLL expert. A good starting place for finding one is CLL Society’s List of CLL Experts who have been recommended by the CLL community.
A LOCAL EXPERT
A general hematologist/oncologist can manage your ongoing care. They are often more available and can be indispensable in an emergency. The local expert may treat many different cancers and so may not have a great depth of knowledge about CLL. It is ideal to have both a local expert and a CLL expert on your team.
Other doctors as needed: primary care, dermatologist (skin cancers are common in CLL), and other specialists as determined by co-morbidities.
A CAREGIVER
Patients who has a strong and supportive caregiver on their team can have far better treatment outcomes. A caregiver is often a family member or close friend who supports you by attending your most important doctor visits, taking notes or recording the consults, being a sounding board for your concerns, helping you to adhere to medication timetables and dosages, keeping you in a positive state of mind, and advocating for your best possible care.
A CLL-SPECIFIC SUPPORT GROUP
Often the best advice comes from he hard-earned wisdom and emotional balance that can only be offered by fellow patients and caregivers who may have already experienced the therapy you are considering. They can also share knowledge about local services and options. Don’t go it alone.
Register for a CLL Society CLL-specific (virtual) support group near you.
Get started building your CLL care team with this handy form!
We are all in this together!
ADDITIONAL READING
NEWLY DIAGNOSED
RECENT NEWS
When appropriate, the CLL Society will be posting updates and background information on the present Coronavirus pandemic focusing on reliable primary sources of information and avoiding most of the news that is not directly from reliable medical experts or government and world health agencies.
