Early Palliative Care for Patients With Multiple Myeloma and Aggressive Lymphoma

Launched by UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK, TORONTO · Jun 26, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at the benefits of early palliative care for patients with multiple myeloma and aggressive B cell lymphoma, which are types of blood cancers. Palliative care focuses on improving a patient's quality of life by managing symptoms and providing emotional support, alongside regular cancer treatments. The researchers want to see if adding early palliative care can help patients feel better, both physically and emotionally, and enhance their overall experience during treatment.

To participate, individuals must be at least 18 years old and have either a new diagnosis of multiple myeloma or aggressive lymphoma that needs a treatment change. Participants will be randomly placed into two groups: one will receive early palliative care with their regular cancer treatment, while the other will only receive standard care. Throughout the study, participants will fill out questionnaires about their symptoms and well-being, and some may be invited to share their experiences in interviews afterwards. This trial aims to gather valuable information that could lead to a larger study, helping to improve care for patients facing these challenging conditions.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • age ≥18 years;
• • a new diagnosis of multiple myeloma or at time of progression of disease necessitating a change in treatment plan, or relapsed/refractory aggressive B cell lymphomas after one prior line of therapy;
• • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-3; and
• • willingness to complete symptom screening.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • insufficient English literacy to complete study procedures;
• • hematologist-determined poor cognitive status;
• • current palliative care team involvement at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre or elsewhere;
• • referred to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre for once-off a second opinion and not receiving ongoing follow up with hematology team at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; and
• • failure to score a single item at ≥3 of the ESAS-r-plus at time of recruitment.