Blood Cancers

The NNUH is part of the Anglia Cancer Network, which is based on two cancer centres (Norwich and Cambridge). The Haematology department is committed to developing within the network the strategic direction of cancer services for the population of Norfolk and North East Suffolk, in collaboration with its partners in the NNUH, the James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust, Primary Care Trusts, social services, patients’ groups and the voluntary sector.

The Cancer Network works together to develop strategic service delivery plans for all aspects of cancer services from prevention and screening through to diagnosis and treatment and specialist palliative care, in line with the NHS Cancer Plan and other national guidance.

There are now over 130 different subtypes of blood system cancers described and the NNUH provides a comprehensive service to manage them all. They are initially commonly sub-divided into the blood cancers – the leukaemias, the lymph gland and spleen cancers – the lymphomas and bone cancer – myeloma. There are then further divisions in to particular diagnostic subtypes which provide important information about treatment and prognosis. Good quality information is very important to patients and we aim to provide you with all the information and advice that you require. Please feel free to ask if there is anything that hasn’t been covered to your satisfaction in your clinic appointments.

As an adult patient in the haematology department you are likely to be seen and managed as an outpatient in the The Colney Centre where we have facilities to give chemotherapy (drug treatment), radiotherapy (Xray treatment) and supportive treatments such as blood transfusion. Inpatient care which is necessary for some patients is usually on Mulbarton Ward and emergency admissions usually come through the Acute Medical Unit (AMU).

We run a Consultant led specialist service in specialist disease specific clinics for the different types of blood cancer. As well as being under the care of a named consultant you will be assigned a specialist nurse who you can contact with questions and advice between visits to the hospital. You may also find the Big C Cancer Information and Support Centre (located just outside the Colney centre at the NNUH) a valuable resource for information and support.