Communication And Support Can Help Patients With Cancer Improve Their Quality of Life During Treatment

Treatment is one part of the cancer journey that largely shapes a patient’s quality of life. But according to one expert, patients can do other things to not just maintain, but also improve their quality of life while going through cancer and its treatments.

Cristiane Decat Bergerot, of Cettro – Centro de Cancer de Brasilia in Brazil, recently spoke with CURE® about a phase 2 open-label trial comparing the health-related quality of life that patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) experienced when receiving two different starting doses of Lenvima (lenvatinib) in combination with the chemotherapy everolimus. presented at the 2021 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.

The data, which were presented at the 2021 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, found that a higher starting dose of Lenvima improved health-related quality of life compared to a lower dose. But in addition to treatment decisions that are decided upon with their health care providers, Bergerot also noted that there are other ways for patients to maintain or improve their quality of life through cancer treatment.

The answer, according to Bergerot, is communication and support.

“I would say first to give the health care team all the information (they can) about their symptoms and needs,” Bergerot explained. “This will help them to mitigate all the disease burden and also the treatment burden associated with this drug.”

She also noted that by finding other ways to care for themselves, patients can improve their quality of life. “I would also suggest them to get some exercise and also to look for social support, or psychosocial support, if they need, and to take care of themselves as best as they can.”

Transcription:

I would say first to give the health care team all the information (they can) about their symptoms and needs. This will help them to mitigate all the disease burden and also the treatment burden associated with this drug.

I would also suggest them to get some exercise and also to look for social support, or psychosocial support, if they need, and to take care of themselves as best as they can.