Mary Kay Yamamoto

Panelists discuss how healthcare providers and patients should understand that talquetamab's unique side effects are temporary and resolve over time even while continuing treatment, emphasizing the drug's excellent efficacy and the importance of removing stigma around its manageable toxicity profile.

Panelists discuss how effective caregivers should join support groups, maintain detailed records of symptoms and medications, attend all appointments, stay informed about myeloma research, and serve as active advocates who can communicate with healthcare teams when patients cannot.

Panelists discuss how patients beginning talquetamab should maintain a positive attitude, prepare thoroughly with educational materials, and understand that while initial side effects can be challenging, they are temporary and manageable with proper preparation and support.

Panelists discuss how patients can maintain nutrition during talquetamab treatment by focusing on texture and food presentation when taste is impaired, using high-calorie options, and remembering that taste changes and dry mouth are temporary side effects that improve over time.

Panelists discuss how specific talquetamab-related side effects like skin peeling, nail changes, and rashes can be effectively managed through targeted interventions including topical treatments, protective measures, and preventive strategies tailored to the drug's unique toxicity profile.

Panelists discuss how healthcare providers can develop comprehensive management protocols for talquetamab-related toxicities by consulting with specialists, gathering patient feedback, and creating detailed handouts that empower patients to proactively manage side effects before they begin treatment.

Panelists discuss how comprehensive patient education materials and manufacturer resources help patients prepare for and manage talquetamab side effects, with prior experience from CAR-T therapy providing valuable context for understanding potential complications like cytokine release syndrome.

Panelists discuss how healthcare providers must actively educate local oncologists, emergency departments, and community centers about bispecific antibody management as these therapies move from inpatient to outpatient settings, ensuring proper recognition and treatment of side effects like cytokine release syndrome.

Panelists discuss how successful talquetamab treatment requires coordinated care between inpatient and outpatient teams, comprehensive caregiver preparation including education materials and emergency contact information, and access to multidisciplinary healthcare providers as needed.

Panelists discuss how expectations for treatment outcomes can become more positive over time through experience with multiple therapies, staying informed about clinical trials and new treatments, and focusing on quality of life as a primary treatment goal alongside disease control.

Panelists discuss how caregivers can navigate the initial shock of a myeloma diagnosis by seeking reliable information from trusted medical websites, connecting with local support groups, and accessing resources from organizations such as the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), and patient advocacy groups.

Panelists discuss how Alan Plisskin's multiple myeloma diagnosis began with severe back and hip pain, progressed through life-threatening complications, including seizures and vocal cord paralysis, and revealed extensive lytic lesions throughout his body that required immediate intensive treatment.