Clinical Symposium 2 - What does a Haematologist do?

Question 1

What is Haemotology?

Answer 1

Diseases of the blood, bone marrow and lymphoid organs

Question 2

What type of conditions does haematology involve?

Answer 2

Conditions with too few blood cells – eg. anaemia
Conditions with too many blood cells – eg. leukaemia
Conditions with abnormal function of blood cells – eg. sickle cell disease
Disruption to blood clotting – eg thrombosis, haemophillia

Question 3

Are Haematologists clinicians or pathologists?

Answer 3

Both.

Question 4

What investigations does a haematologist undertake for suspected blood cancer?

Answer 4

• Morphology (what the cells look like)
• Genetics (Identifying genetic changes within the abnormal cells)
• Flow Cytometry
  (Look at protein expression on cells to identify different populations)

Question 5

What is CAR-T therapy?

Answer 5

Modifies patient’s own T cells to allow them to recognise and attack their cancer cells

Question 6

Who handles each step of the patient’s journey?

Answer 6

Making the diagnosis and breaking the news (clinician)
Reporting blood films and bone marrows (pathologist)
Planning and delivering treatment – chemotherapy, immune therapy, blood transfusions, clotting factors (clinician)
Follow up and monitoring long term conditions (clinician)
Dealing with relapsed disease (clinician)
Supporting patient’s at the end of life (clinician)