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 in practice. Key recommendations include better psychological support for patients, offering whole-body MRI as the first imaging procedure, using the same bone marrow sample for all diagnostic and prognostic tests, and better access to coordinated treatment and supportive care. It also complements existing NICE guidance on the drug treatment of myeloma and sets out which anti-myeloma treatments, including high-dose therapy and stem cell transplantation, and supportive treatments should be used to bring about maximum benefit for myeloma patients.
