Supportive Care
Published: Oct 15, 2008 8:00 am
Supportive care is used to improve myeloma patients’ comfort and quality of life.
Myeloma patients often are affected by:
- Thinning bones
- Pain
- Infection
- Renal failure
- Anemia
- Hypercalcemia (too much calcium)
- Amyloidosis
Supportive treatments for myeloma patients commonly include:
Bisphosphonates (i.e. Aredia® and Zometa®)
- reduce the advancement of bone disease
- decrease bone pain
- reduce fractures
Orthopedic interventions
- control pain
- improve functioning and mobility
Pain control (i.e. medication, radiation, radiopharmaceuticals – Quadramet®)
Antibiotics
- prevent and treatinfection
Growth factors
- help the bone marrow produce more red and white blood cells
Related Articles:
- Anti-DKK1 Antibody As New Treatment For Myeloma Bone Disease
- Growth Factor May Not Be Required Following Stem Cell Transplantation In Multiple Myeloma Patients
- Serum Albumin Levels Indicate Severity Of Multiple Myeloma
- Macrophages May Contribute To Survival Of Multiple Myeloma Cells
- Bisphosphonate Treatment For Myeloma Bone Disease
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