Key points

The mainstay of treatment for myeloma is to receive several drugs in combination
Through the course of their myeloma, patients may receive the same treatment more than once, particularly if they showed a good response to that treatment previously and did not progress whilst receiving the treatment or shortly thereafter
No treatment for myeloma is currently considered to be curative
Some patients will receive one or more autologous stem cell transplants
Patients may respond differently to the same treatment, despite being at the same disease stage
A patient’s age, any pre-existing medical conditions and personal preferences must all be taken into consideration in treatment decisions
Nurses play a crucial role in ensuring that patients and their families are kept informed about their treatment options throughout the different stages of their disease
Almost all treatments for myeloma bring side effects. You can read more about how nurses can help manage these side effects in Module 8 of this programme and in our Myeloma Nurse Guide series.
Quality of life should always be factored into treatment decisions and patients should feel able to discuss their concerns with their medical team, particularly during later lines of therapy
You can find more information on all drugs discussed here on Patient Information Hub.