We’ve seen data before by the Mayo Clinic and the University of North Carolina showing that multiple myeloma patients who are seen by a myeloma specialist live longer. A new, recent study supports these findings.
A state cancer registry linked to public and private insurance claims was used to identify 1029 myeloma patients from 2006 – 2012. The study evaluated the difference in overall survival between:
The study found that:
Reasons why patients didn’t obtain treatment from NCI designated Cancer Centers included older age, governmental insurance (eg. Medicaid), not being married and increased distance from the NCI center.
There is solid evidence that patients who have multiple myeloma should be seen by a myeloma specialist, especially at diagnosis and relapse. If patients are seen in the community setting, it should be only by oncologists or hematologists who have extremely high myeloma patient volumes (as much as an NCI Cancer Center which is typically 500-2000 myeloma patients per year). Experience matters!
We’ve seen data before by the Mayo Clinic and the University of North Carolina showing that multiple myeloma patients who are seen by a myeloma specialist live longer. A new, recent study supports these findings.
A state cancer registry linked to public and private insurance claims was used to identify 1029 myeloma patients from 2006 – 2012. The study evaluated the difference in overall survival between:
The study found that:
Reasons why patients didn’t obtain treatment from NCI designated Cancer Centers included older age, governmental insurance (eg. Medicaid), not being married and increased distance from the NCI center.
There is solid evidence that patients who have multiple myeloma should be seen by a myeloma specialist, especially at diagnosis and relapse. If patients are seen in the community setting, it should be only by oncologists or hematologists who have extremely high myeloma patient volumes (as much as an NCI Cancer Center which is typically 500-2000 myeloma patients per year). Experience matters!
about the author
Jennifer Ahlstrom
Myeloma survivor, patient advocate, wife, mom of 6. Believer that patients can contribute to cures by joining HealthTree Cure Hub and joining clinical research. Founder and CEO of HealthTree Foundation.
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