Dr Jennifer Vaughn: Patients With MPN, MDS Should Discuss Long-Term Priorities Upfront

With most patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) experiencing long-term, chronic disease, it’s important to discuss their priorities and set up the relationship with their providers upfront, explained Jennifer Vaughn, MD, assistant professor in the division of hematology at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

Transcript

What do you wish more patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms and myelodysplastic syndromes were aware of as they are being treated?

I wish that all cancer patients understood their role in helping define the true meaning of value-based care. I think that their opinions are really about what their priorities are in terms of their cancer experience are the aspects that should be shaping how we mold value-based care and are planning for it as we move to those sorts of models in health care.

In terms of, specifically, myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders, they are part of an ever-growing catchment of cancer patients that have more chronic disease or at least a subset of them have actually more chronic disease, and so they’re going to have a more long-term cancer experience. So, their relationship with their providers and with the health care system, is going to be extended for many years if not decades.

And so, I think realizing upfront, this is going to be a long-term commitment and a long-term relationship, speaking at the beginning: how do they define what they find valuable in their treatment experience. And what are going to be their priorities as they continue to get care, whether that be increased longevity, increased quality of life, thinking about their financial well-being and avoid the financial toxicity, or participation in research that helps them to feel like they're contributing to the development of new therapies as a whole.