Families affected by blood cancers need more support, and we are excited to announce that Leukaemia UK is at the forefront of an initiative to provide just that.

The advances achieved in medical treatments need to be matched by much greater emotional and wellbeing care for people affected by blood cancer. Such support would enable them to cope better with treatments and look more confidently to the future.

The psychological impact of treatments for leukaemia and other blood disorders is different to that of other cancers. There is no tumour to 'remove' from the body, and treatments involve the need for isolation from infection, making visiting and social contact very difficult for many weeks.

Emotional support during and after this period is an essential part of treatment.

That's why we launched a revolution in blood cancer care: our Mind & Body team

Our first team of dedicated counsellor and clinical psychologist support specifically designed for haematological patients will be located at King's College Hospital in London, for an initial period of two years. We hope to prove that patients recover faster, need fewer medications and can be released from hospital sooner when they feel supported emotionally.

For the first time, we will be able to measure and evaluate the difference made to patient recovery and wellbeing, and we hope to prove that providing top-class emotional support, as well as excellent clinical care, will make a significant difference to patients and their families.

Philip Alexander, haemato-oncology counsellor and psychotherapist at King's, believes the unique approach of the Leukaemia UK Mind & Body team could prevent more serious forms of mental health problems.

"This is about coping and adjustment. We are about being there from the outset, helping people to adjust and to cope with the experience and maybe by doing this, we can in some cases prevent post-traumatic stress or depression from developing," he says.

Please consider supporting our Mind & Body team

We want to build such teams around the country, so please email us if you think your local hospital would benefit from having one. 

The Mind & Body team video above was kindly produced by Frontera London