Phase II Study Testing Early Palliative Care for Adults With Multiple Myeloma or Aggressive B Cell Lymphoma Assessing Feasibility and Patient Outcomes at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate an early palliative care approach for patients with multiple myeloma and aggressive B cell lymphoma, as well as caregivers of lymphoma patients. The study addresses the need for better symptom management and quality of life improvements since these patients often face significant physical and psychological challenges. Early palliative care has shown benefits in solid tumor cancers, but its effects on blood cancers have not yet been explored extensively. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups. One group will receive early palliative care plus usual care from their blood cancer doctor, including an initial comprehensive assessment by a palliative care nurse and physician, and monthly follow-up visits for three months, which may be in-person or virtual. Caregivers are encouraged to attend at least one palliative care visit. The other group will receive usual care alone, with palliative care referrals made at the hematologists discretion or upon patient request. Throughout the study, patients and caregivers will complete questionnaires measuring quality of life, symptom burden, mood, and satisfaction with care at baseline and monthly for three months. Select participants and healthcare providers will be interviewed about their experiences. Researchers will review these measures to assess feasibility, preliminary benefits, and perceptions of early palliative care. The total study duration includes 12 months for recruitment and a 3-month follow-up period for each participant.

Early Palliative Care for Patients With Multiple Myeloma and Aggressive Lymphoma