The Crucial Role of Nurses in Blood Cancer Care: Challenges and Support Needs
September 30, 2024 Posted by: Eli Lilly and Company
When you have blood cancer, your nurse often becomes one of the most important people in your life.
Treatment for these cancers—including leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma—can be long, intensive and can carry risk of relapse and infection.1,2 Nurses often spend a lot of one-on-one time with their patients, building strong relationships and trust over time. They play a critical role in understanding a patient's needs and work closely with hematologists and oncologists to create the most appropriate treatment plans.
It is estimated that approximately every three minutes, one person in the U.S. is diagnosed with a type of blood cancer including leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.3 Every year, blood cancer represents about 10% of all cancer diagnoses in the U.S. Hematologic malignancies can often be aggressive and require urgent and highly demanding care from health care teams, causing a significant burden on patients who may require intensive and long-term treatments.1,3
That's why the nurses who care for blood cancer patients are so essential.
The Multifaceted Role of Nurses in Blood Cancer Care
Comprehensive care for blood cancer is not just a treatment approach; it's a lifeline that addresses the multifaceted needs of those living with cancer. Central to this approach is the health care team, with nurses playing an essential role in patient assessment, patient education, coordination of care, symptom management and beyond. Their trusted expertise is also matched by their dedication to offering an empathetic and compassionate presence throughout a person's cancer journey.
Understanding the Complexities of Blood Cancer Therapy
In blood cancer care, there are many complex lines of therapy, from initial treatments to maintenance therapy. For many living with blood cancer, remission can often turn to relapse, resulting in an urgent need for treatment options and supportive care from the patients' medical team. Navigating these multiple therapy lines can also bring added stress onto patients and families.
Additionally, blood cancer patients are often at a higher risk for infections, given that these cancers grow in the bone marrow and can affect normal blood cells.3 During these moments, blood cancer nurses provide a pillar of stability and are there to answer pressing questions to help navigate finding the best care for them. Our partners at CLL Society share more:
"At CLL Society, we are thankful for the invaluable impact and commitment of nurses to addressing the unmet needs of those living with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Nurses are a critical common thread linking informed CLL treatment decisions with day-to-day patient care across their therapeutic journey. Nurse's ability to balance clinical excellence with heartfelt compassion is what makes them essential to those living with CLL and their families."
Empowering Patients with Supportive Care and Education
When it comes to blood cancer care, empowering patients and providing education is paramount. Blood cancer has over 100 subtypes, each with its own unique characteristics and treatment protocols.4 Blood cancers often develop slowly and can initially present with very subtle or nonspecific symptoms that are easily overlooked.5 These differences and nuances can bring uncertainty among patients and their families and it's important to have nurses at the front line who are equipped with the knowledge and tools to inform decision making. Our partners at Lymphoma Research Foundation share more:
"Nurses are the cornerstone of blood cancer care. At the Lymphoma Research Foundation, we recognize nurses' unwavering support to empower patients with the resources and knowledge they need. From guiding patients through intricate treatment protocols to offering emotional support during the toughest times, nurses are integral to every step of the patient’s journey. Their commitment to eradicating lymphoma and their ability to inspire hope in the toughest times is truly remarkable."
Celebrating Our Nurse Heroes
We share our partners' admiration for nurses and their heroic work every day. Their presence at the forefront of patient care, offering both critical medical interventions and unwavering emotional support, is a testament to their dedication and compassion. Nurses often provide pillars of strength and hope for patients and families, guiding them through the complexities of their cancer journey. By celebrating the care they provide, we honor their contributions to improve health outcomes and enhance the quality of life for those affected by blood cancer.
As we deliver meaningful new therapies to patients living with blood cancer, we’ll continue working alongside advocacy partners, oncologists, nurses, caregivers and patients with the shared goal of making life better for those living with blood cancer.
References
1. Tsatsou I, Konstantinidis T, Kalemikerakis I, Adamakidou T, Vlachou E, Govina O. Unmet supportive care needs of patients with hematological malignancies: A systematic review. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2020;8(1):5-17. Published 2020 Oct 15. doi:10.4103/apjon.apjon_41_20. Accessed September 12, 2024.
2. Why are people with cancer more likely to get infections? American Cancer Society. Accessed September 11, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/infections/why-people-with-cancer-are-at-risk.html#:~:text=Many%20treatments%20for%20cancer%20can%20lower%20your%20white,system%20isn%E2%80%99t%20working%20as%20well%20as%20it%20should.
3. Facts and statistics overview. LLS. Accessed September 11, 2024. https://www.lls.org/facts-and statistics/facts-and-statistics-overview#General%20Blood%20Cancers.
4. Howell DA, McCaughan D, Smith AG, Patmore R, Roman E. Incurable but treatable: Understanding, uncertainty and impact in chronic blood cancers-a qualitative study from the UK’s hematological Malignancy Research Network. PLOS ONE. Accessed September 12, 2024. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0263672.
5. Blood cancers. Yale Medicine. June 28, 2022. Accessed September 12, 2024. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/blood-cancers.