ABSTRACT
The diagnosis of blood cancer is often made in a circuitous way. Initially a patient may be referred from one hospital/clinic to another, before he or she receives any real explanation. The news usually comes as a (psychological) bombshell to both the patient and his or her relatives, and, perhaps, as a surprise to the family physician. Most patients are deeply upset and may even be resentful of various issues. For example, if they feel that the diagnosis was delayed for some time, they may wonder whether their chances of being cured have been jeopardized. Many will feel that they have embarked upon a terrible and perhaps even frightening journey into the unknown and will be worried if they have the necessary health insurance, particularly in wealthier countries like the United States, but also in the United Kingdom where many of the recently approved cancer drugs are not readily available in the NHS plan. Some patients will be annoyed to see most, if not all, previously performed tests repeated at the specialized center. Naturally most patients and their relatives may feel despondent.
