Supportive care

Supportive care addresses complications related to the CLL and its treatment, enabling patients to be as comfortable as possible.

Much of the supportive care is based on good nursing care. An important component of this includes advice to patients on how to protect themselves from infection outside the hospital.

Supportive care consists of a broad range of interventions:

  • Blood transfusions (red cells or platelets) to help with low blood counts
  • Growth factor Injections because white blood cell transfusions are not possible given the high likelihood of side effects. Growth factors will help patients produce more white cells.
  • Antibiotics or antifungals for prevention of, and ongoing, infections
  • Vaccination for pneumococcal pneumonia, haemophilus influenza B and meningococcus C. In addition, CLL patients are recommended to have an annual flu vaccine.
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