Dr. Jamieson on Symptom Management in Myelofibrosis

Catriona Jamieson, MD, PhD, the team leader for the Division of Hematology/Oncology at UC San Diego Health Moores Cancer Center, discusses symptom management in patients with myelofibrosis.

The best way to manage symptom burden for this patient population is to choose the appropriate treatment regimen, according to Jamieson. Previously, treatment options were limited for patients with myelofibrosis, and a larger focus was put on managing their quality of life vs their quantity of life, Jamieson says. However, these 2 factors are, in fact, intertwined, Jamieson notes. 

With the advent of better treatments that more effectively target the disease, both outcomes and symptoms have improved for patients, Jamieson explains. Currently, 2 FDA-approved agents are available for use in this population, but many promising agents are in the pipeline; these options will help to shift the focus in care from symptom management to disease modification for patients, Jamieson concludes.