Your first appointment at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a time for you and your hematologist to meet. You might meet a social worker and an advanced practice provider, too. You will talk about how sickle cell disease affects you, your current treatment and your future treatment options. 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).
Director of the Fred Hutch Sickle Cell Disease and Iron Overload Program, Kleber Yotsumoto Fertrin, MD, PhD, shares what can be expected at a first appointment with the Sickle Cell Disease Program.
Our Sickle Cell Disease Clinic is on the fourth floor of the South Lake Union Clinic. Your first appointment usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours. You will spend about one hour with your physician. 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.
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: