Quality of Life and Long-Term Therapy in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2016 Apr;11(2):80-5
Date
02/18/2016Pubmed ID
26879546Pubmed Central ID
PMC4860261DOI
10.1007/s11899-016-0306-5Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84958241812 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 47 CitationsAbstract
Since the development of imatinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the prognosis for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has markedly improved, such that most patients diagnosed with CML can now expect to live with their disease rather than die from it. However, most patients will require long-term treatment, which has deleterious effects on health-related quality of life. We review recent literature on drug-related adverse effects, long-term medication adherence, limitations to fertility and pregnancy, effects on cognitive function, ability to work, financial toxicity, pediatric populations, and treatment discontinuation. While patients with CML are fortunate to have excellent therapies available to control their disease, many are unable to lead normal lives, which challenges the notion that research is no longer needed in CML. Curing CML, i.e., no detectable disease and no need for daily medications, should remain the ultimate goal.
Author List
Flynn KE, Atallah EAuthors
Ehab L. Atallah MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinKathryn Eve Flynn PhD Vice Chair, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Antineoplastic AgentsCognition Disorders
Fertility
Humans
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive
Quality of Life
Time Factors
