Values Discussions Help Patients During Stem Cell and CAR-T Therapy

Patients undergoing intensive cancer treatments like stem cell transplants or CAR-T cell therapy often face a heavy emotional and physical burden.

New research presented at the Oncology Nursing Society Annual Congress suggests that simple conversations with nurses about personal values can make a significant difference in how patients experience their care. These treatments, known as cellular therapies, are often complex and can come with significant side effects.

While palliative care — a type of medical care focused on providing relief from symptoms and stress — is beneficial, many patients do not have routine access to it during these procedures.

To bridge this gap, researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center studied a new approach. They trained nurses and advanced practice providers to lead "health-related values" discussions directly with their patients. Instead of only focusing on lab results and medications, these conversations centered on who the patient is as a person.

Asking the right questions

The heart of this initiative involved nurses asking patients specific, meaningful questions to understand their goals and fears. According to the study, patients were asked what gives them strength while facing treatment and what "living well" looks like to them at this stage of their lives.

Other questions focused on a patient’s hopes and the specific abilities they feel are essential to their quality of life. Nurses also used these sessions to help patients plan for the future, including discussing who should make medical decisions for them if they are ever unable to speak for themselves.

Building a stronger bond

The results of the study showed that these conversations did more than just fill out a form. Of the 32 health care providers who participated, 29 said these talks strengthened their relationship with their patients and made the patients feel more comfortable.

Nurses reported that the discussions helped them see the "human in front of them" rather than just a patient receiving a treatment. By understanding what was most important to the person in the hospital bed, the entire medical team could work together to set goals that actually matched the patient's wishes.

One provider noted that the process helped ease patient anxiety because it allowed the medical team to understand their fears on a deeper level.

Overcoming challenges to better care

While the program was successful, providers did point out some hurdles to making these conversations a standard part of every patient's stay. The most common issues were a lack of time during busy shifts, language barriers, and an initial nervousness about how to start such deep conversations.

However, the researchers emphasized that these discussions are a vital tool that can be used by nurses in many different areas of cancer care, not just for those undergoing transplants.For patients and their families, this study suggests that being open about personal values and life goals with a nursing team can lead to a more personalized and supportive treatment experience.

As the study authors noted, these conversations create a true partnership between the nurse and the patient.

Editor's note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, as your own experience will be unique. Use this article to guide discussions with your oncologist. Content was generated with AI, reviewed by a human editor, but not independently verified by a medical professional.

Reference

1. “Early Primary Palliative Care (PPC) Intervention for Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) Therapy: Nurses’ and Advanced Practice Providers’ (APP) Perceptions” by Audra Badigalupo et al., poster presented at: ONS Annual Congress; May 2026.

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