Multiple Myeloma Care Team

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.

This physician manages your medicine-based treatments, including chemotherapy. Some people get targeted therapy or immunotherapy. If watchful waiting is right for you, you will see this physician on a regular schedule to check your health and to start treatment, if you need it.

Your hematologist-oncologist will:

• See you during your first visit. They give you an exam and order any tests you need to diagnose or stage your disease.
• Explain what your diagnosis and stage mean and answer your questions.
• Recommend medicines, doses, schedule and sequence to match your exact needs. They 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 deal 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.

Infusion nurses are registered nurses (RN) who specialize in giving patients intravenous (IV) medications and therapies, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and antibiotic infusions. They also check on patients during infusions, help keep patients comfortable and can respond to any issues that may come up.

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

This physician treats cancer with radiation. They prescribe and manage this part of your care if you need it. Working with a radiation oncology team, they plan and deliver your treatments.

Your radiation oncologist will:

• See you if your medical exam shows that radiation therapy is likely to help. If you did not need radiation at the start of care, but your situation changes, we will arrange for you to see a radiation oncologist then.
• Recommend radiation therapy to match your case. They decide the type, dose and schedule. They also talk with you about the benefits and risks.
• Work behind the scenes with other radiation experts. These experts make sure you get the right dose in the right places (dosimetrist). They also maintain the equipment that is used (medical physicist).
• Answer your questions about radiation therapy, like why you need it and what to expect.
• Sees you on a regular schedule during radiation therapy to check how your cancer responds and how you are doing overall.
• Offer you ways to prevent, relieve and deal with possible 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.

This specialist sees you when you come in for radiation treatment. They explain your treatment, check your health, answer your questions and help you with side effects.

This specialist positions you each time you come in for radiation treatment. They make sure that your treatment goes to the right places on your body. They also operate the machines that deliver the radiation. 

This physician reads your imaging tests and decides what they mean. They also do some types of biopsies.

Your radiologist will:

• Look for abnormal areas on images.
• “Decode” the meaning of your images and let you know if you need to have more imaging, a biopsy or other care.
• Do a fine-needle biopsy or core biopsy, which is often guided by an X-ray or ultrasound.
• Work with the rest of your care team about any tests and treatments you need.

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.

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

Learn more about Supportive Care Services

If you need a blood and 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.

Learn more about your Blood and Marrow Transplant Team