Blood cancers are a major health concern in the Black community. They include conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. A recent study showed that Black patients actually experience better survival rates when they were treated similarly to white patients. There is no cure for blood cancers, but there have been significant advancements in its treatment in recent years. The most recent advancements involve Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, treatment options for newly diagnosed disease, and maintenance therapy.
CAR T-cell therapy
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has shown great success in treating some blood cancers. This type of treatment uses a personal approach to target and destroy cancer cells using the immune system.
CAR T-cell therapy uses gene changes to the T-cells to effectively target cancer cells. Over the past several years, CAR T-cell therapies have been FDA approved for the treatment of different blood cancers.
Click here to learn more about CAR T-cell therapy.
Treatment for newly diagnosed disease
Treatment options for blood cancers have evolved in recent years. There are several new treatment options and strategies. The treatment used depends on many factors including age, overall health, genetics, and the cancer characteristics.
When newly diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to work closely with the healthcare team to determine the most appropriate and effective treatment plan. The treatment plan should be based on individual circumstances and the latest treatment advancements. Early diagnosis is key.
Maintenance therapy
After the first round of treatment, maintenance drug therapy is usually next. Maintenance therapy is a type of long-term treatment that is often used in blood cancers. Maintenance therapy can help prolong remission and improve overall patient survival.
The choice of maintenance therapy should be personalized. There should be shared decision-making with the healthcare team.
Looking forward
The recent advancements in the treatment of blood cancers represent progress in managing these complex and challenging types of cancer. The development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies are promising.
Research and clinical trials continue to promote progress. We must continue to raise awareness by collaborating with healthcare providers and researchers in the ongoing fight against blood cancers.
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References
- American Society of Hematology. Blood cancers.
- National Cancer Institute. Multiple Myeloma Awareness and African American Disparities
- International Myeloma Foundation. Disparities in African Americans
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Understanding Blood Cancers and Treatment Options.
- Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. The latest myeloma treatment advances from ASCO 2023
- Blood Cancer Journal. Black patients with multiple myeloma have better survival than white patients when treated equally: a matched cohort study
- National Cancer Institute. CAR T Cells: Engineering Patients’ Immune Cells to Treat Their Cancers
- University of Colorado Cancer Center. Blood Cancer.
- American Society of Hematology Education Program. Newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: making sense of the menu
