Many patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are transfusion-dependent and may experience some of the negative effects of iron overload. Iron chelation therapies may help these patients, removing excess iron from their bodies, but how should health care professionals choose between the available options?  

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has 

 for helping choose the therapies that are appropriate for some of these patients. In this video, Phyllis McKiernan, MSN, APN, OCN, Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, John Theurer Cancer Center explains factors that go into choosing iron chelation therapies, including methods of administration, a patient’s functional age, their comorbities, organ status, and more.

 “When we choose a therapy, we want to choose a therapy that will have the least impact on the patient’s life and that’s going to give us the greatest chance for success that this patient will be adherent to the therapy and achieve the maximum benefit,” she says.

Videos

Phyllis McKiernan, MSN, APN, OCN, Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, John Theurer Cancer Center explains factors that go into choosing an iron chelation therapy for a patient with myelodisplastic syndrome (MDS) experiencing transfusion-related iron overload. 

Choosing an Iron Chelation Therapy for a Patient with MDS

Phyllis McKiernan, MSN, APN, OCN, nurse practitioner, John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, discusses blood and marrow transplantation and treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with targeted therapies.

McKiernan says that many advances have been made in blood and marrow transplantation over the past 20 years and patients now can survive for a long time following a transplant. 

Targeted therapy is one advancement that has been made in treating blood cancers, McKiernan says. These therapies target molecular mutations that are particular to a cancer and have less of an effect on normal cells.

Phyllis McKiernan on Blood and Marrow Transplants and Targeted Therapies

Phyllis McKiernan, MSN, APN, OCN, nurse practitioner, John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, discusses new drug approvals for multiple myeloma and addressing adverse events.Â 

The FDA approved three drugs within a 2-week span in November for multiple myelomaâ€”Darzalex (daratumumab), Ninlaro (ixazomib), and Empliciti (elotuzumab). McKiernan says that nurses can help patients make informed decisions by sharing scientific information about the risks and benefits of their treatment options.Â 

Educating patients is also key in addressing adverse events, McKiernan says. Some patients stop taking a drug once they begin to experience side effects, and McKiernan says that nurses should reiterate to patients that they can help lessen and manage their effects.Â 

Articles

Phyllis McKiernan, MSN, APN, OCN, nurse practitioner, John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, discusses new drug approvals for multiple myeloma and addressing adverse events.Â 


Phyllis McKiernan, MSN, APN, OCN

Articles

Choosing an Iron Chelation Therapy for a Patient with MDS

Phyllis McKiernan on Blood and Marrow Transplants and Targeted Therapies

Phyllis McKiernan on Drug Approvals and Adverse Events