Palliative care for adults: strong opioids for pain relief (CG140)
Pain is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of progressive myeloma. This guidance written by NICE outlines safe use of opioids for adults with advanced disease.
Study reveals prevalence of symptoms in myeloma patients
A Myeloma UK funded study, published recently in the European Journal of Haematology, has found that a large number of symptoms occur frequently in myeloma patients, highlighting the importance of routine assessments throughout the disease trajectory in order to achieve optimal quality of life for patients. Led by Christina Ramsenthaler and Prof Irene Higginson, Department of…
Revamped Cancer Drugs Fund launched in England
A revised Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) together with wider changes in the way the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) assesses cancer drugs has recently been launched. Developed through a partnership between National Health Service (NHS) England and NICE, the new CDF allows drugs which meet set criteria under a managed access agreement…
IMWG publishes updated consensus criteria for response and MRD in myeloma
The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) has recently published further consensus criteria for defining disease response in myeloma. Since the original response criteria were set in 2006, newer, more sensitive methods can now quantify myeloma cells as low as 1 in a million. Published in the Lancet Oncology, the updated criteria identify responses beyond complete response…
New genetic clues help explain inherited predisposition to myeloma
A study published recently in Nature Communications has identified eight new genetic risk loci for myeloma, providing further insights into the genetic and biological basis of its predisposition. The research, performed at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and part funded by Myeloma UK involved a meta-analysis of pooled data from several independent genome-wide association…
Haematological cancers: improving outcomes
This NICE guidance covers medical and NHS service recommendations for children and adults who have received a diagnosis of a haematological cancer.
NICE publishes new guidance for the diagnosis, treatment and care of myeloma patients
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has set out new guidance for the diagnosis, treatment and care of myeloma patients with the aim of providing consistently excellent patient-focused care within NHS England. The new guidance has been created to cover aspects of management where in the past there was uncertainty or variation…
Zoledronic acid treatment at biochemical relapse
This study shows benefits from zoledronic acid monotherapy in myeloma patients with asymptomatic biochemical relapse and suggests that it should be considered as a new standard of care for this group.