Among different treatments for multiple myeloma, one of the great discoveries of this last decade has been bortezomib. This medicine began to be administered in patients with multiple myeloma in the relapse phase (tumor recurrence after a long period of absence of disease). But due to the high response rate and the increased average survival of patients treated with bortezomib, its use as a first line of treatment in combination with other drugs was approved.
During the first phase after approval, this medication was administered intravenously, so the patient carried an intravenously to receive their dose. Subsequently, different clinical trials demonstrated that the subcutaneous administration of bortezomib is equally effective in treating myeloma and also reduces its toxicity significantly. As well as the severity of some side effects such as peripheral neuropathy. For this reason, for five years, the indicated form of administration for bortezomib is subcutaneous.
The Home Care Unit of the Onco-Hematology Institute of Hospital Clínic offers the possibility of receiving home care to patients with multiple myeloma treatment with subcutaneous bortezomib and difficulty mobilizing.
In these cases, the unit's nursing staff goes to the patient's home and administers the entire treatment during every day of the cycle. In this way, the patient only has to travel to the hospital to visit the hematologist. Therefore, subcutaneously bortezomib administration at home is better tolerated, it is much more comfortable for the patient and the nursing staff and, in this way, it improves the quality of life of myeloma patients.
The Home Care Unit of the Onco-Hematology Institute of the Hospital Clínic, which has been in operation since 1999, has active programs of this type for various diseases such as acute leukemias, aplasias, autologous and allogeneic early discharge program and transplantation at home . The application of these programs aims to improve the quality of life and comfort of patients, which at the same time has an effect on increasing the effectiveness of treatments.
