Introduction: Treatment decisions in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are challenging, particularly for those who are not candidates for intensive chemotherapy (IC), and the trade-offs patients, their families and physicians consider when choosing a treatment option are not well understood. This qualitative research explored the value of extending survival and the treatment decision-making process from a multi-stakeholder perspective. Methods: Overall, 28 patients with AML (C 65 years old, unsuitable for IC), 25 of their relatives and 10 independent physicians from the US, UK and Canada took part in one-onone, 60-minute qualitative interviews.Results: Across all stakeholders, improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL), extended survival and relief of AML symptoms were rec-
INTRODUCTION: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare hematologic cancer primarily affecting older people, with a median age at diagnosis of 67 years old (Almeida & Ramos, 2016). Heterogeneity in the presentation, functional status and presence of comorbidities among AML patients presents unique challenges for treatment. Intensive chemotherapy (IC), although the best option for prolonging survival, carries a risk of early death and other trade-offs, including significant time spent in the hospital. The toxicity of IC treatment and the requirement for prolonged hospitalizations may negatively affect patients' physical functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Novel, low-intensity treatments can be administered in the clinic and may pose less risk of immediate toxicities but may be associated with reduced efficacy. Each patient and family will approach these trade-offs differently, yet few studies examine the process of shared decision-making in AML. We aimed to better understand this process by eliciting patient/family and physician narratives about expectations and attitudes towards AML treatments. METHODS: Ten physicians in the US (n=4), UK (n=3) and Canada (n=3) and 12 AML patients (all US) and a member of their family took part in an individual, 60-minute qualitative telephone interview. Further interviews are scheduled and any additional data at the time of presentation will also be reported. The interviews followed a semi-structured guide comprising open-ended questions. The overarching aim of the interviews was to understand the value of living longer for AML patients who are not candidates for standard IC and to explore the treatment decision process from the patient, family and physician perspective. During the interviews, each participant (patient, family member or physician) completed a rating exercise in which they were asked to rate a list of pre-defined factors (9-10 factors) on a scale of 0 (not at all important) to 3 (very important) to determine their importance in AML treatment decisions. As well as providing a numerical rating for each factor, each participant was asked why they selected their rating and which three factors they would consider the most important. RESULTS: Across all three groups, relief in AML symptoms (namely fatigue and pain), longer survival and better QoL were equally considered the three most important factors when making a treatment decision. All three groups described the interaction between QoL and longer survival, explaining that any increase in survival would be important, but only if QoL (time spent with family, maintaining hobbies/interests) was maintained or improved. Physician's advice was also important to AML patients when making decisions regarding treatment. Other treatment-related factors within the rating task were rated as very important for at least a subset of patients, with no factors widely considered to be of limited importance. All participants noted that while relief of AML symptoms, longer survival and quality of life were all important, these had to be considered in light of treatment side effects and risk of infection. Likelihood of being hospitalized was important to family members, as they wanted to spend quality time at home with their loved ones, while patients and physicians considered hospitalization as an inevitable consequence of the disease and treatment. All participants reported that AML patients would consider taking any form of treatment if suitable and effective, regardless of the mode of administration. However, it was acknowledged that oral treatments would be more convenient and less invasive. The relative importance of location of care/treatment delivery was influenced by proximity to resources and whether the participant was based in an urban or rural setting. The ability to receive treatment at home was considered beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this rating exercise and qualitative interviews showed convergence across all stakeholders, indicating that AML patients, family and physicians have similar priorities regarding treatment decisions, prioritizing symptom relief, survival, and quality of life. The predominant treatment pathways in AML each require trade-offs in these factors, demonstrating the importance of shared decision making in ensuring the most appropriate treatment is selected for a given individual, in accordance with their values, goals, and preferences. Figure Disclosures LeBlanc: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Otsuka: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Heron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Helsinn: Consultancy; Flatiron: Consultancy; NINR/NIH: Research Funding; Duke University: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Medtronic: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer Inc: Consultancy; American Cancer Society: Research Funding; Agios: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; CareVive: Consultancy. Walter:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Amphivena Therapeutics: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Aptevo Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Argenx BVBA: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; BioLineRx: Consultancy; BiVictriX: Consultancy; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy; Boston Biomedical: Consultancy; Covagen: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy; New Link Genetics: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Race Oncology: Consultancy. Hernandez-Aldama:Pfizer Inc: Consultancy. Sully:Pfizer Inc: Consultancy; Adelphi Values Ltd: Employment. Bell:Pfizer Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Johnson:Pfizer Inc: Consultancy; Adelphi Values Ltd: Employment. Peloquin:Pfizer Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Gater:Pfizer Inc: Consultancy; Adelphi Values Ltd: Employment. Welch:Pfizer Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. O'Hara:Adelphi Values Ltd: Employment; Pfizer Inc: Consultancy. Russell:Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer Inc: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; DSI: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Horikoshi:Pfizer Inc: Consultancy. Maze:Pfizer Inc: Consultancy; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
Emmy award winning journalist, international speaker, 2x cancer survivor and author of “Becoming the Story: The Power of PREHAB” — Loriana Hernandez-Aldama kicks off the conference with an advocate keynote detailing her “State of Possible” as she breaks down how to make more patients of color possible with her 3P protocol —Prepare-Present-Prevail®. In a inspirational and transparent message, the former network medical reporter will share her own patient journey, the challenges she faced as a Latina, and the voids and discoveries she made when she found herself on the other side of healthcare— this time as a patient— after a diagnosis of AML Leukemia. Loriana says it took her world flipping upside down and nearly losing it all (including her DNA) for her to gain perspective and discover the biggest breaking stories of her career and the unmet needs of the minority communities. And at every turn, the lack of diversity in clinical trials impacted her chance of survival as Loriana struggled though leukemia, a bone marrow transplant, breast cancer and now survivorship. Today, Loriana is on a mission through her non-profit, ArmorUp for LIFE, to amplify the patient voice and improve patient outcomes through risk reduction (PREHAB) in our underserved communities so we can position communities of color to PREVAIL. Loriana says, “our genetic codes may set us up for failure… our zip codes should not.” Citation Format: Loriana Hernandez-Aldama. The state of possible [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr IA-02.
ArmorUp for LIFE is a nonprofit founded by Loriana Hernandez-Aldama, former news anchor and fitness and health reporter turned leukemia survivor during her one-year fierce battle with AML. Loriana was a clean eat, green drinking yoga enthusiast and at the time of her diagnosis felt like she was in the best shape of her life. She had to put her reporter hat on and dig for answers. Cancer taught her that bad things can still happen but what matters most is how prepared you show up for the fight. Doctors explained that the more fit you are, the more chemotherapy you can get. The more fit you show up the better your chances of success and that those who show up with health issues (diabetes, heart disease and obesity) have their doses lessened because doctors are forced to tiptoe around their illnesses. In the doctors' words, “We can't kill you trying to save you.” From that day forward, Loriana knew this would be the biggest story of her career. ArmorUp for LIFE was born and based on the 5 pillars of helping patients show up fit to the fight so they can meet the medicine halfway and become their own hero. Fighting cancer is a joint effort and Loriana is trying to educate everyone before, during, and after the fight to take action. Citation Format: Loriana Hernandez-Aldama. [Advocate Abstract:] Armorup for life [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B90.
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