Milan, May 19 (beraking latest news Health) – From the problems that Covid-19 has caused in assisting cancer patients, forcing them to think of new solutions, to better management of the disease possible thanks to the new organizational methods imposed by the pandemic. Thus, ‘inspired’ by the ongoing health emergency, the ‘Caring My Life’ and ‘Patients Matter’ projects promoted by Novartis and aimed respectively at patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and polycythemia vera (Pv), two cancers of the blood that require frequent monitoring, with blood sampling, to check the progress of the disease and the effectiveness of the therapies. Patients will be able to monitor the disease at home, with the possibility of modulating the periodicity of the checks, if necessary.
At the moment the ‘Caring My Life’ project for patients with Lmc – explains a note – is active at the Sant’Eugenio hospital in Rome, the hospital-university consortium Policlinico di Bari and the Federico II Polyclinic in Naples, while for patients with PV the ‘Patients Matter’ project is active at the Vito Fazi hospital in Lecce, the A. Gemelli Irccs university hospital in Rome and the Careggi hospital in Florence. Both initiatives envisage that, on the basis of the indications provided by the reference hematologist, the blood sampling is carried out at home by a nurse who then delivers the sample to the reference laboratory. “Fewer hospital visits, fewer logistical problems for patients and family members, and simplified management of disease monitoring” are the advantages highlighted by the promoters.
“We are happy to be able to give life to these projects to support patients in the area, thanks to the collaboration with numerous hospitals throughout Italy – declares Luigi Boano, General Manager of Novartis Oncology Italy – Our historical commitment in hematology has its roots in research and in the development of innovative therapeutic solutions, but it goes beyond therapies, to focus on the needs of patients in the multiple aspects of the daily management of the disease “.
The ‘Caring My Life’ program is dedicated to patients with CML who are not undergoing any therapy, but who need to have frequent control blood samples. These patients must in fact monitor the disease at close intervals, even monthly – the experts recall – with a considerable impact on daily life, to which are added the complications related to the pandemic situation. The project relieves patients of the burden of monitoring in terms of time, organization and logistics.
“The treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia has been revolutionized by the arrival of Tki therapies, which have made it possible to achieve important results in terms of disease control, making it possible in many cases to remission free from treatment, with a significant impact on quality. of life of patients who can live long-term without having to undergo any therapy – underlines Fabrizio Pane, full professor of Hematology at the Federico II University of Naples and AF director of Hematology at the same university hospital – After the suspension of treatment patients must undergo frequent checks, with the need for numerous blood samples which during the health emergency led to management difficulties. The introduction of a home collection service therefore goes in the direction of simplifying the monitoring of the disease which, starting from the pandemic emergency, it may g implement the reorganization of services and management and organizational models in the coming months “.
A theme, that of monitoring the disease – continue the specialists – which also unites patients with polycythemia vera, a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by an excessive production of red blood cells, which leads to an increase in blood viscosity and consequently in the hematocrit value. which requires constant monitoring and attention through frequent blood tests. Hence the ‘Patients Matter’ project dedicated to Pv patients.
“In recent years, the objectives of the treatment of polycythemia vera have focused on reducing the risk and mortality from cardiovascular causes – remarks Valerio De Stefano, full professor of Hematology and director of the Hematology Service and Day Hospital complex operating unit of the Polyclinic Foundation Agostino Gemelli Irccs University – This has been possible thanks to the realization of studies that have generated guidelines aimed at an appropriate and stringent use of antiplatelet and cytoreductive drugs, in addition to the practice of bloodletting. It is now established that a hematocrit value equal to or less than 0.45 is associated with a significant reduction in vascular events. Frequent blood sampling is therefore necessary to verify the efficacy of the treatment and control the hematocrit values, with the need for patients to often go to hospital, despite the risks and the difficulties related to the pandemic and a considerable weight from the point from a logistic point of view. The home blood count program to which we have joined responds precisely to the need to lighten this burden for patients, favoring home monitoring of the hematocrit, in constant connection with the reference hematologist “.