Dr Davies on Challenges Experienced When Treating Patients With Multiple Myeloma

Faith E. Davies, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, director, Center for Blood Cancers, director, Clinical Myeloma Program, Perlmutter Cancer Center, discusses challenges experienced by hematologist-oncologists and specialist nurses when treating patients with multiple myeloma.

At the 2023 International Myeloma Society Annual Meeting, Davies and colleagues presented data garnered from a survey of hematologist-oncologists and specialist nurses that analyzed 3 key areas of multiple myeloma treatment. Davies says that investigators examined the rapid pace of treatment developments, followed by an investigation into the ecosystem and environmental factors surrounding these challenges. Lastly, investigators sought the perspectives of health care professionals on the most significant patient-related issues, Davies says.

Despite the global scope of the survey, several recurring themes emerged in the responses it received, Davies explains. These included concerns about selecting the most appropriate treatment in the face of ongoing changes in the field and the critical need to stay updated with the latest data, she notes.

Furthermore, investigators identified various concerns related to treatment infrastructure, including the need to establish optimal infrastructure for the delivery, cost, and accessibility of new drugs, she expands. As patients with multiple myeloma experience increasing survival outcomes, there's a growing need to manage the chronic nature of the disease, presenting both an opportunity and a challenge, Davies says.

Regarding the third area of investigation, which explored the perceptions of doctors and nurses regarding patient issues, Davies explained that although patients should be directly involved in discussions about their myeloma care, healthcare professionals play a crucial role in disseminating this information, Davies explains. Nurses, in particular, are often the point of contact for patients who wish to discuss symptoms and adverse effects, she adds. Patients also share concerns about accessing education about multiple myeloma and keeping pace with the evolving challenges and changes in their health care journeys, Davies concludes.