Module 4 – Staging and prognosis of myeloma
Summary of module
This module focuses on the prognosis (prediction of the likely outcome) and staging of myeloma, explaining the various factors that help to indicate the likely prognosis.
It describes how myeloma is staged, providing details of the current systems used to determine the extent of disease.
Prognosis and staging can be highly applicable to decision-making in myeloma, and nurses are an important part of this process. For many nurses, prognosis can be a difficult topic to discuss with patients, particularly as myeloma is an incurable cancer. They need to be able to communicate with patients and their families about prognosis, what prognostic factors are, and what they mean in practice.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this module you will be able to:
- Define the current staging systems in myeloma
- Outline the prognostic factors in myeloma, in particular those that are key in affecting disease progression
- Appreciate the potential importance of staging and prognosis in myeloma
Study time
The following number of hours of study time is recommended for successful completion of this module:
Online learning: 5
Independent study: 5
Total hours: 10