Cancer Patients’ Perspectives and Experiences of Chemotherapy-Induced Myelosuppression and Its Impact on Daily Life

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate which side effects of chemotherapy are considered most burdensome by patients with cancer, identify which health care professionals pay most attention to symptoms associated with chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (CIM) from the patient perspective, and capture the “patient voice” describing how CIM impacts their daily lives. Participants and Methods Online survey of participants with breast, lung, or colorectal cancer who had received chemotherapy within the past 12 months and experienced ≥1 episode of CIM in the past year. Participants were asked to answer close-ended questions and provide qualitative responses to: “In your own words, please describe how side effects from myelosuppression have impacted your life.” Results Among 301 survey participants, fatigue was the most frequently reported side effect of chemotherapy; 55% of participants rated fatigue as highly bothersome (9 or 10 on a 1–10 scale of “bothersomeness”). Participants rated symptoms associated with CIM, including fatigue, weakened immune system (infections), bleeding and/or bruising, and shortness of breath, as being as bothersome as other side effects of chemotherapy, including alopecia, neuropathy, and nausea/vomiting. Overall, 24–43% of participants thought that CIM and its symptoms had a negative impact on their daily lives, including their ability to complete tasks at home and work, and to socialize. Qualitative responses supported these findings; participants highlighted that CIM-related symptoms, particularly fatigue and fear of infections, affected their ability to be physically active, complete work, or continue meaningful relationships with friends and family. Conclusion Participants described a real-world impact of CIM that often isolates them from family and friends, and means that they are unable to work or perform tasks of daily living. Using measures that help patients to recognize and communicate the signs and symptoms of CIM might increase the likelihood of maintaining daily lives as close to normal as possible, during and after chemotherapy treatment.

Budget impact analysis of trilaciclib for decreasing the incidence of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer in the United States

“…10,18 These myelosuppressive adverse events (AEs) are associated with an increased risk of morbidity, oftentimes experienced as fatigue, infection, and sepsis, 19 as well as increased mortality, poorer health-related quality of life, and greater utilization of health care services that incur additional costs. [20][21][22][23][24][25] A substantial economic burden is associated with chemotherapy-induced myelosuppressive AEs in the United States. [26][27][28] Hospitalizations due to neutropenia account for 8.3% of all cancer-related hospitalization costs for adults in the United States and have an attributable estimated cost of $2.3 billion per year (2012 US dollars [USD], $3.0 billion in 2021 USD).…”

Burden of chemotherapy‐induced myelosuppression among patients with extensive‐stage small cell lung cancer: A retrospective study from community oncology practices

“…10 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 Further, symptoms such as fatigue and concerns over infection risk may have a considerable negative impact on patients' quality of life and may impact their ability to continue treatment. 16 , 17 …”

“…However, the burden of chemotherapy‐induced myelosuppression (CIM) on patients with cancer is substantial, placing patients at significant risk of serious infections, bleeding, sepsis, and even death 10,12–15 . Further, symptoms such as fatigue and concerns over infection risk may have a considerable negative impact on patients' quality of life and may impact their ability to continue treatment 16,17 …”

Expression of a Synthetic Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) for Cancer Therapy Development

“…With molecular tumor profiling (MTP), new agents or compounds for treating cancer could be effectively developed [6]. Current cancer treatments seem to be significantly harmful to patients, like chemotherapy that also attacks healthy cells and sometimes triggers metastasis events [7], [8]; also, it was associated with chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (CIM) that impacts to patient's daily lives [9]. So, patients after chemotherapy must enhance the awareness and tackled the side effects via counselling with the doctor or health professionals for better self-care [10], [11].…”