People with multiple myeloma are living longer with improved treatments. Thus, proper health maintenance practices are increasingly important. Provided are resources and information to assist multiple myeloma health care providers in navigating patients’ long-term health care.
Important components of cancer survivorship include:
- Monitoring for recurrence
- Managing psychosocial effects
- Patient health education on potential effects and daily health maintenance
- Encouraging age appropriate screenings (eg hypertension, diabetes)
- Screening recommendations for secondary cancers
- Referrals to specialists
- Resources to assist with financial and insurance issues
- Empowering the patient to advocate for their own needs
Survivorship Care Guidelines Consensus Statement
- Survivorship Care Plan Key Components
- Bone Health Survivor Plan
- Renal Care Plan for Stable Multiple Myeloma Patients
A Study on the Lack of Health Maintenance and its Implications in Multiple Myeloma by the Nurse Leadership Board showed that being employed and married or partnered both correlated with better health maintenance for males; no correlation was found for females.
More information about side effect management and psychosocial concerns throughout the disease continuum is available at the NLB Resource - Managing Complications and Side Effects.
The Oncology Nursing Society has a short video for nurses and advanced practitioners on guiding patients through advanced care planning.
Patient Resources
Related Content
Seminars in Oncology Nursing
Vol. 33 Issue 3 | August 2017
Living with Multiple Myeloma: A Continuum-Based Approach to Cancer Survivorship
Survivorship Care Plan for Multiple Myeloma
CJON | Supplement to Vol. 15 Num. 4 | August 2011
Survivorship Care Guidelines for Patients Living With Multiple Myeloma
Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing
Supplement to Volume 21, Number 5
Renal, GI, and Peripheral Nerves
The International Myeloma Foundation medical and editorial content team
Comprised of oncology-certified nurses, the Nurse Leadership Board has extensive knowledge of the multiple myeloma treatment and care landscape. These resources were developed by their team.
Last Medical Content Review: November 5, 2021