Steroid-Associated Side Effects in Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Consensus Statement of the IMF Nurse Leadership Board

As in many other cancers, survivorship of multiple myeloma involves handling treatment, recovery from therapeutic interventions, the effects of the disease, and ongoing therapies. Although mobility challenges vary among survivors of multiple myeloma, these patients have an increased risk of impaired mobility because of side effects of therapy and the pathology of the disease, as well as other factors (e.g., increasing age). Health maintenance increasingly is becoming a part of the cancer control continuum, and nurses have the opportunity to help survivors of multiple myeloma optimize their functional mobility and safety, thereby preserving quality of life. The purpose of these practice recommendations is to provide the healthcare professional with information on mobility, fall risk, and planned activity as an integral part of the plan of care for patients with multiple myeloma. Tools for nurses and physicians for assessing and evaluating the newly diagnosed patient, the patient undergoing treatment, and the long-term survivor of multiple myeloma will be provided.

Section: Promoting Safety Through Physical Activitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Mobility and Safety in the Multiple Myeloma Survivor

Rome¹,

Jenkins²,

Lilleby³

2011

“…Complications include impaired cell repair (delayed recovery from chemotherapy and wound healing); increased clotting of red cells; increased aggregation of platelets (increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism); increased inf lammation (Hammer & Voss, 2012); decreased ability to fight infection; increased load on major organs, including kidney, liver, and heart; and, most important for patients with cancer, increase in cellular proliferation (cancer growth) and mortality (Stevens, Dinkel, & Catanzaro, 2011) (see Figure 1). In other words, cancer cells grow faster with unmanaged malglycemia (Faiman et al, 2008) and apoptosis (programmed cell death) is suppressed (Hammer & Voss, 2012).…”

Section: Concerns With Steroidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first is to increase the cell kill process in diseases such as multiple myeloma, lymphomas, and some solid tumors (Faiman, Bilotti, & Rogers, 2008). The steroid works by inhibiting the expression of cytokines such as interlukin, which is a major growth factor (Faiman et al, 2008).…”

Section: Use Of Steroidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management Strategy for Steroid-Induced Malglycemia During Cancer Treatment

Vos-Schmidt

Dilworth²

2014

“…Dexamethasone can cause a wide range of adverse events affecting many organ systems; one such side effect is ophthalmic in nature and includes blurred vision and cataract formation (Faiman et al, 2008). For that reason, patients with multiple myeloma are an at-risk population because they are or have been treated with medications that have the potential to cause ocular side effects.…”

Section: Sensory Vision Screeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Routine Health Maintenance in Patients Living With Multiple Myeloma

Bilotti¹,

Gleason²,

McNeill³

2011

Self Cite

Patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma are living longer because of new therapeutic options. Helping patients with multiple myeloma maintain a good state of health from the time of diagnosis and throughout their therapy leads to better quality of life. However, patients with multiple myeloma are at risk for illnesses experienced by the general population and at additional risk for illnesses related to multiple myeloma and its treatment. Therefore, the International Myeloma Foundation Nurse Leadership Board (NLB) has developed practice recommendations to meet the particular needs of adult patients with multiple myeloma using evidence-based recommendations for screening and disease prevention, as well as nursing experience. The NLB recommendations are designed to address and overcome barriers to health maintenance by educating and empowering nurses and their patients.