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Haematology

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​​On this page:


Chevron ​​​MDT a​nd clinics

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Dr. William Stevenson image 
​General Haematology Lead and Head of Department
Dr. William Stevenson​



Multidisciplinary team leads


Dr. Matthew Greenwood​​ - bone marrow transplant MDT lead

Dr. Luke Coyle​ - lymphoma/radiology MDT lead
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What is blood ca​ncer?

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Blood is made up of different types of cells. These cells are made in our bones. Blood cancers happen when these blood cells aren’t made properly. It can be abnormal division (splitting) of cells, abnormal growth, or abnormal function of blood cells. These changes might happen in early or later cell development. 

There are three main groups of blood cancers: 
  • Leukaemias, 
  • Lymphomas, and 
  • Myelomas. 

Blood cancers can be fast growing (acute) or slow growing (indolent and/or chronic). 


Our service​

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The haematology department provides treatments for blood cancers and other blood disorders. There is an inpatient unit and there are outpatient services.

Treatments can include: 

  • Chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy, 
  • Radiation, 
  • Apheresis (where a particular part of the blood is removed and replaced), 
  • Venesection (removing blood to analysis it or for treatment), 
  • Transfusions, and 
  • Stem ​cell transplants. 
  • Haematology at RNSH also run several clinical trials. 

The haematology team includes: haematologists (doctors who treat blood diseases), medical registrars, residents, interns, clinical nurse consultants and specialist, cancer care coordinators, nurse unit managers, laboratory scientists, social worker, pharmacists, clinical psychologist and dieticians. All team members work together to individualise your treatment and give you the best care at RNSH. 

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Multidisciplinar​y team (MDT) and clinics


  • Monday afternoon ​
    • Haematology ward round
  • Wednesday morning 
    • Clinical case discussion (statewide referrals)
    • Bone marrow transplant MDT
  • Friday morning
    • Radiology/lymphoma MDT 
    • Myeloma only nurse led clinic – fortnightly 9-12 on level 1 NSCC – any myeloma patient starting on a new line of therapy

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Diseases​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 Acute leukaemias
Acute myeloid leukaemia 
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Acute promyelocytic leukaemia

 Chronic leukaemias
​​Chronic myeloid leukaemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Hairy cell leukaemia
Biphenotypic leukaemia

 Hodgkin’s lymphomas
Nodula sclerosing lymphoma
Mixed cellularity lymphoma
Lymphocyte-rich lymphoma
Lymphocyte depleted lymphoma
Nodular lymphocyte predominant lymphoma

 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas
​Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Follicular lymphoma
SLL/CLL
Mantle cell lymphoma
Burkitt’s lymphoma
Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas
AIDS related lymphoma
CNS lymphoma
Adult T-cell lymphoma
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Double hit lymphoma
Lymphoblastic lymphoma
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma
Nodal marginal zone lymphoma
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma
Primary central nervous system lymphoma

 Myelomas
​Multiple myeloma
IgG myeloma
IgA myeloma
Light chain myeloma (Bence Jones myeloma)
Non-secretary myeloma
Smouldering myeloma
IgD myeloma
IgE myeloma
IgM myeloma

 Myeloproliferative neoplasms
​Primary myelofibrosis
Polycythaemia vera
Essential thrombocythaemia

 Blood disorders
​Myelodysplastic syndromes
Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia
Aplastic anaemia
Amyloidosis
Thalassaemia
Von Willbrand disease
Leukocytosis
Plasmacytoma
Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance

Haematology cancer experts

 Haematologists
Dr. William Stevenson
Dr. Luke Coyle
Dr. Matthew Greenwood
Dr. David Kliman
Dr. Keith Fay
Dr. Naomi Mackinlay
Dr. Victoria Pechey
Prof. Stephen Mulligan
Prof. Ian Kerridge
Prof. Chris Ward
Dr. Grace Gifford
Dr. Natalie Cromer
Dr. Chris Arthur

 Haematology pathologists
Dr Tom Kennedy
Dr Lesley Survela
Dr Poomahal Kumar​

 Pharmacists
Marrow Transplants - Andriana Colic
Haematology - Ariana MacCauley
Clinical Trials Pharmacists
Cancer Care Team Lead Pharmacist - Mellissa Batger

 Radiation oncologists
​Prof. Susan Carroll
Dr. Marita Morgia

 Bone marrow transplant nurse practitioner
​Julija Sipavicius​

 Bone marrow transplant fellow
Rotated position​
​Molly Forbes, Haematology Clinical Trial Unit NUM

Molly Forbes is the Nurse Unit Manager for Haematology Clinical trials. Molly has worked in the trials unit since the early 2000’s, initially as a study coordinator/research nurse, and as manager for the last 12 years. The research nurse facilitates the patient treatment journey of through a clinical trial, ensuring the patient experience is seamless and as stress free as possible. The trials team work closely with the haematology consultants and are committed to ensuring patients can participate in a clinical trial when appropriate.​

Cancer nurse coordinato​rs​​​

  • Johanna Guest, Bone Marrow Transplant Coordinator

    Jo is one of the marrow transplant coordinators and has worked at RNSH for almost 30 years caring for haematology and bone marrow transplant patients. Jo is an integral part of the BMT team and is committed to ensuring the best patient care and outcomes throughout the transplant experience. Jo has a graduate certificate in oncology nursing and is completing a Masters of Advanced Nursing at UTS.

  • Nonie Ferrer, Apheresis Cancer Nurse

    Nonie Ferrer is the apheresis clinical nurse consultant RNSH. I support bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients undergoing haematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) collection. I also provide education, training, support and consultation to patients, families, and clinicians in the provision of therapeutic apheresis procedures including mononuclear cell collections, white blood cell depletion, red blood cell exchanges, platelet collection/depletion and therapeutic plasma exchanges. I have a graduate certificate in cancer nursing and completing my Master of Cancer and Haematology Nursing at the University of Sydney. I have been in haematology and BMT since 2008.

Affiliations/pa​rtners


ChevronDivision ​of medicine

Chevron​Radiation oncology

ChevronInterventional radiology

ChevronHammondCare - community palliative care

ChevronAustralasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group

ChevronAgency for Clinical Innovation - Bone and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies Network​

ChevronKolling Institute 

Chevron​North Foundation



Questions to ask your doctor​​
​​

When diagnosed with cancer, it's common to feel overwhelmed and forget questions to ask the doctor. The Cancer Council offers a list of suggested questions for you or your carer to ask at appointments.

These can help you be more involved in your care.



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Useful links​

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ChevronFor information on world wide trails see:External LinkAustralasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group ​
ChevronFor information on cancers, support and services:External LinkCancer Council NSW
ChevronFor information about blood cancers seer:External LinkLeukae​mia Foundation
ChevronFor information about types of lymphoma see: External LinkLymphoma Australia
ChevronFor information about myeloma see:External LinkMyeloma ​Australia
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