RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Early Palliative Care for Patients With Multiple Myeloma and Aggressive Lymphoma

This study explores if offering early supportive care, also known as palliative care, alongside usual treatment can help people with multiple myeloma or aggressive lymphoma. These cancers can cause many physical and emotional symptoms. While early supportive care has helped people with other cancers, it hasn't been studied much for blood cancers like these. The research aims to find out if this type of care is possible to provide, if it works well, and how patients, their caregivers (for lymphoma), and healthcare providers experience it. Participants will be split into two groups: one receiving early supportive care plus usual care, and the other receiving usual care only. Researchers will compare how they feel through questionnaires and interviews to guide future studies.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University Health Network, Toronto

Enrolment target

144

Start

18 Jul 2024

Estimated completion

01 Jun 2027

Multiple Myeloma in Relapse Multiple Myeloma, Refractory Multiple Myeloma Stage III Multiple Myeloma Progression Multiple Myeloma B Cell Lymphoma Lymphoma, B-Cell Aggressive Lymphoma

What is this study about?

When people are diagnosed with certain blood cancers like multiple myeloma or aggressive lymphoma, they can experience a wide range of physical discomfort and emotional challenges. Sometimes, important conversations about quality of life and future care happen quite late in the journey, and care can be very intense towards the end of life.

Supportive care, often called palliative care, is about providing comfort and improving quality of life for people facing serious illnesses. It focuses on helping with symptoms, emotional distress, and making sure your values and wishes are respected. For people with solid tumours (like lung or breast cancer), adding early supportive care to their usual treatment has been shown to help with symptoms, mood, and overall well-being. However, we don't yet know if this approach works for people with blood cancers.

This study wants to learn if giving early supportive care to people with multiple myeloma and aggressive lymphoma, and their caregivers (for lymphoma patients), can make a positive difference. It also aims to understand everyone's experiences – from patients and caregivers to the doctors and nurses providing the care. The findings from this study will help guide the development of larger, more comprehensive research in the future, ultimately hoping to improve care for people with these conditions.

Key takeaways

This study looks at adding early supportive (palliative) care to standard treatment for specific blood cancers.
It aims to improve symptoms, mood, and overall quality of life for patients and their caregivers.
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either early supportive care plus usual care, or usual care alone.
The study involves filling out questionnaires over 3 months and possibly a follow-up interview.
It helps researchers understand if this care works well for blood cancer patients to guide future, larger studies.
Your ongoing care from your blood cancer specialist will not be affected by participating.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you generally need to be 18 years or older. For multiple myeloma, you would have a new diagnosis or your existing condition would have worsened, requiring a change in treatment. For aggressive B-cell lymphoma, you would have had at least one previous treatment that didn't fully work.

You should be able to complete some questionnaires in English and not currently be receiving care from a palliative care team. You also need to be regularly seeing a blood cancer specialist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

For caregivers, you need to be 18 or older and be caring for a patient with relapsed B-cell lymphoma who is also in the study. You must be willing to attend at least one study visit with the patient and be able to communicate in English.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have multiple myeloma (new, relapsed, or worsening) or aggressive B-cell lymphoma (after at least one treatment)?
Are you able to speak and understand English well enough to complete questionnaires?
Are you not currently receiving care from a palliative care team?
Are you currently receiving care from a blood cancer specialist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre?
If you are a caregiver, are you caring for a patient with relapsed B-cell lymphoma and willing to attend some visits?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll be randomly assigned to one of two groups, like flipping a coin. One group will receive early supportive care sessions in addition to your regular care from your blood cancer doctor. The other group will continue with only your regular care from your blood cancer doctor. You won't know which group you are in until after you've joined.

Everyone participating will be asked to fill out questionnaires about your quality of life, symptoms, mood, and how satisfied you are with your care. You'll complete these questionnaires four times: when you join the study, and then after 1, 2, and 3 months. After 3 months, some patients, and their caregivers if applicable, might be asked to have a one-time interview to talk about their experiences. Some healthcare staff will also be interviewed to share their views on providing supportive care. Your involvement, including all questionnaires and potential interviews, would generally span about 3 months.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may offer potential benefits, such as receiving early supportive care which could help manage symptoms and improve your overall well-being and understanding of your condition. Even if you are in the group receiving usual care, you'll be contributing valuable information that can help improve care for future patients. There are no direct physical risks, but completing questionnaires and interviews might take some of your time and could, for some, bring up emotional topics. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'early palliative care'?

It's supportive care that focuses on comfort and improving your quality of life from earlier in your illness, alongside your usual treatments.

What conditions are being studied?

The study is for people with multiple myeloma (especially when it's relapsed or worsened) and aggressive B-cell lymphoma.

Will I get extra medicine in this study?

No, this study is about adding supportive care conversations and planning, not new medications. Your usual cancer treatment will continue as planned by your doctor.

How long will I be in the study?

You would generally be in the study for about 3 months, which includes filling out questionnaires at different times.

Can my caregiver join too?

If you have aggressive B-cell lymphoma, your caregiver might also be able to take part in the study alongside you.

How to find out more

Breffni Hannon, MB BCh BAO, MMedSci, MCFP

breffni.hannon@uhn.ca 416-946-4501 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.