The Experiences of Living with Multiple Myeloma and a Palliative Approach to Care

Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer of the plasma cells of the blood characterized by aggressive physical symptoms including bone damage, pain, renal impairment, and anemias. The average lifespan after receiving a diagnosis of multiple myeloma is approximately seven years. There are many treatments for this disease, but none provide a lasting cure. Of the available treatments, most are associated with severe and, often toxic, cumulative side effects. Individuals with multiple myeloma can experience both disease and treatment related suffering that often goes unacknowledged. A palliative approach to care has been demonstrated to alleviate suffering and can be used in conjunction in with curative therapy. Currently, a palliative approach is rarely utilized for these individuals. Presently, there is very little available literature from the perspective of patients living with multiple myeloma, and few on their experiences with a palliative approach to their care. Straussian Grounded Theory was used to explore a deeper understanding of the process individuals undergo living with multiple myeloma. Qualitative categories that emerged included: the perceived absence of a palliative approach to care, waiting for inevitable relapse, shifting one’s identity, increasing knowledge to gain control over health, struggling with symptom management, continual rebalancing, and dynamic supportive needs. The core category of ‘existing in the liminal space between living with and dying from multiple myeloma represented the overarching process of living with multiple myeloma. Gaining an understanding of this process will increase awareness of how a palliative approach to care can be utilized to help individuals living with multiple myeloma. Keywords: multiple myeloma, palliative care, qualitative research, grounded theory

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Nursing (MN)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Nursing

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Weerahandi, Ambereen

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Sinclair, Shane Aaron

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Raffin-Bouchal, Donna Shelley
• Watson, Linda Christine
• Lemieux, Laurie

• Multiple Myeloma
• Palliative Care

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/41871

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/117028