Some of our acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients begin their care by coming to the South Lake Union Clinic, which is an outpatient clinic, to meet with a physician who specializes in AML. This page will tell you about what happens at these clinic appointments.
The rest of our AML patients begin their care by going directly to the inpatient hospital at UW Medical Center - Montlake to start chemotherapy. After their hospital stay, they come to the South Lake Union Clinic for the first time. The AML treatment page explains more about how this works. (See the section about phases of AML treatment.)
Your first (pre-hospital) appointment at the South Lake Union Clinic is a time for you and your hematologist-oncologist to meet. You might meet your advanced practice provider, too. You will talk about your diagnosis and likely treatment. This visit is also a time for us to start getting to know you as a person. This helps us fit our recommendations to you. Together, you and your team will decide what needs to happen next.
We encourage you to bring a family member or friend to your first appointment (and any future visits).
Your first appointment usually takes one hour. Here’s what you can expect to happen.
Here are tips about how to prepare for your first appointment at Fred Hutch and what to bring.
Just like every patient’s situation is different, every caregiver may be asked to help with different tasks. Learn how you can offer support during a first visit.
As a caregiver, you can give your loved one both emotional and practical support for their first appointment. Ask them if you can help with things like these: