Video

Giving Patients Autonomy During Difficult Conversations

A new patient-reported outcomes tool is helping to shift the way end-of-life and depression-related conversations are occurring between patients with multiple myeloma and their health care teams.

A new patient-reported outcomes tool is helping to shift the way end-of-life and depression-related conversations are occurring between patients with multiple myeloma and their health care teams, according to Joshua Richter, M.D., a hematologist/oncologist specializing in multiple myeloma at the John Theurer Cancer Center.

The tool guided patients to rank their depression and anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), and provided meaningful insight on patients who are ready to go to palliative care or end their treatment. End-of-life discussions are never easy, but this helped to give the patient more autonomy in the conversation.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Related Videos
Daniel Jernazian, who beat cancer twice, credits his sports mindset for survival and calls it winning his ‘life World Championship’.
Patients in rural or underserved areas may have worse outcomes, highlighting the need for early support to address care access barriers.
Image of man with text.
Dr. Emre Yekedüz discusses how ASCO 2025 highlights precision medicine, biomarkers and the gut microbiome as keys to advancing kidney cancer care.
Dr. Breelyn Wilky stresses the importance of expert guidance and second opinions for patients with GIST, as treatment options continue to evolve rapidly.
Mark Daniels, 83, credits CAR T-cell therapy and compassionate care for helping him overcome lymphoma and endure the isolating treatment toll.
An early study of BGB-16673 for hard-to-treat leukemia found that side effects were manageable with no new safety concerns.
Image of woman with text.
Image of goy, and text.
Watch oncology dietitian Kenisha Parikh prepare creamy lentil soup, a soothing, protein-packed recipe to help ease side effects during treatment.