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Caregiver Role in Bispecific Antibody Therapy
What is the role of a caregiver during bispecific antibody treatment?
One of the primary roles you will have as a caregiver during your loved one’s bispecific antibody therapy treatment is to help monitor the patient for unusual behavior.
You know the patient well and can help the healthcare team recognize if they have unusual speech, a hard time writing or processing thoughts, or quickly report if the patient contracts a fever.
Pain management and side effect management will also be part of your roles. Ask the patient about their pain levels and talk to the doctor about over-the-counter solutions for pain and other side effects the patient might encounter.
Another role that you will play is infection prevention. The risk for infections is high with bispecific antibodies, especially at the beginning of treatment. Though prophylactic (preventative) measures are being made to stop these infections, precautions like masks, good hand washing, and limiting visitors may be appropriate.
Other situations like visiting with unvaccinated children or grandchildren, taking care of pets, eating raw meat/fish, or dining out in restaurants should be considered cautiously.
Your responsibility will be to be aware of any signs of infection within your loved one. These can include:
- Fever, chills, or sweats
- New cough or change in cough
- Sore throat or new mouth sore
- Shortness of breath
- Nasal congestion
- Stiff neck
- Pain with urination
Report these or similar symptoms to the healthcare team as soon as possible to prevent serious complications.
If your patient is taking a GPRC5D-targeting bispecific antibody, they might experience significant changes to their taste and appetite. One of your responsibilites could be finding food that is tolerable for them and making sure that they are getting the proper nutrients that they need despite their side effects.
Resources
Pharamceutical companies provide a brochure for caregivers of patients going through treatment. Explore them here.