The Cancer Care Team Member Every Patient With CLL Deserves

The following sentiments are those of a patient.

Based on my current chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment at MD Anderson, I wanted to personally reach out to recognize and thank Dr. Swaminathan's CLL clinic nurse, Sarah Elizabeth Velasquez, RN, for her exceptional care during my two years of treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Simply put, Velasquez has exceeded my expectations for patient care in such a difficult and critical health care field. She has been my clinic nurse and point of contact for all communications on my condition and support needs. Velasquez has demonstrated the ability to combine her knowledge and experience with a true sense of patient care and responsiveness that has made a positive difference in helping me through two years of treatment.

Early on in my treatment plan, Velasquez made several very helpful recommendations to minimize side effects from my daily pill regimen, helping me tolerate the medication with no issues. She not only reviews my blood labs and other test results at each appointment, she also explains them, notes the key findings and describes how they affect my treatment response. A physician friend recently asked me how I understood so much about my treatment. I told him that Velasquez utilizes her knowledge to explain things in a way I can understand.

She is very thorough in her test result reviews. At one appointment, she noticed a slight difference in blood labs from a prior visit. To understand what caused the difference, she asked if I had recently had a bruise or a cold. I showed her a bruise that was healing on my arm, which she noted as the probable reason for the lab result. Her thoroughness provides me with a high level of confidence in her care.

Velasquez recently reached out to me after she noticed an elevated blood pressure episode and emergency room evaluation that I had noted in MyChart. She personally called to understand what happened and see if she could provide any help. I explained that the ER evaluation found no issues and that I had likely overexerted myself power washing the house in 90-degree weather and become dehydrated. Velasquez used the opportunity to reinforce the importance of hydration. But what made the most notable difference from that call was her knowledge and thoroughness. She explained that the blood pressure medication prescribed as a result of the episode carries a caution if my systolic blood pressure approached 100. I was not aware of this and have since had occasion to hold the medication and notify my primary care physician several times.

Velasquez is always looking to learn and advance her knowledge in her profession. She is currently pursuing her next-level degree on a part-time basis, another example of her demonstrated commitment that gives me a high degree of confidence in her care. And she always finds time to close each appointment with a few minutes of positive conversation about favorite foods and sports teams.

Sarah Velasquez is clearly a valuable MD Anderson team member and patient advocate.

— Robert Coriale, patient

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