Various studies have explored the impact of blood cancers on patients and caregivers. Healthcare providers should ensure that treatment plans include ongoing patient education and support to make certain that patients understand the treatments, goals of therapy, and the need for routine monitoring. Additionally, publications have explored how caregivers of cancer patients are affected, revealing that many caregivers experience significant physical, emotional, and psychological stress, which impacts their health and quality of life as well.
A study by Howell et al in Plos One explored the experiences of individuals diagnosed with chronic blood cancers and their comprehension of the diagnosis, including information from the healthcare provider and the emotional and psychological impact of the disease. Key findings revealed that many patients had a limited understanding of their specific type of blood cancer and struggled with understanding how it could be treated, and the uncertainty of the disease’s progression contributed to substantial emotional distress, which was reported more often than physical symptoms. Additionally, results revealed that healthcare providers were instrumental in reassuring patients, but some individuals continued to face emotional burdens and uncertainty, and the need for continuous treatment greatly impacted their mental health and overall well-being.
A real-world study by Cella et al in Blood revealed that patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have a significantly worse quality of life compared with a general cancer reference population. These impacts included higher levels of exhaustion, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, appetite loss, and diarrhea. The findings from this study emphasize the enormous symptom burden that patients with DLBCL encounter and the need for novel therapies to diminish the treatment burden associated with DLBCL.
There are various resources that patients with blood cancer and caregivers can refer to for education and emotional and financial support, such as:
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: https://www.lls.org/support-resources
• American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/
• Lymphoma Research Foundation: https://lymphoma.org/understanding-lymphoma/aboutlymphoma/nhl/dlbcl/
• Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation: https://themmrf.org/about/
Studies show that patients with blood cancers often require frequent hospitalizations, office visits, and emergency room/urgent care visits, which contribute to significant costs for both the patient and the healthcare system. Financial assistance programs for eligible patients are sponsored by various manufacturers of therapies for various types of blood cancers. These programs expand patient access to these therapies by assisting with out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients.
September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and everyday healthcare providers, including pharmacists, can assist patients who are at risk for or who have various types of blood cancer by empowering them with information about the disease and pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options. Raising awareness, supporting patients and their loved ones, promoting research, and expanding patient education initiatives and access to therapies are all critical components in the fight against blood cancers.
Throughout the cancer journey, patients with blood cancers warrant not only medical treatment but also emotional and mental health support, financial assistance, and access to patient education resources. By implementing patient-centered approaches to care, healthcare providers can help patients and their caregivers navigate the often-challenging journey by using safe and effective treatments and delivering supportive and quality healthcare.
The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.
