Midostaurin: Nursing Perspectives on Managing Treatment and Adverse Events in Patients With FLT3 Mutation-Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM) are clonal diseases of the blood. Prognoses for patients with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutation-positive AML and those with advanced SM are poor. In the United States, midostaurin was approved in 2017 in combination with standard chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed FLT3 mutation-positive AML and as a single agent in patients with advanced SM. OBJECTIVES: This article aims to improve oncology nurses' knowledge about the benefits and risks of midostaurin therapy and to provide guidance on the identification and management of eligible patients. METHODS: The clinical data that supported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of midostaurin are reviewed, and supporting safety and management considerations are provided based on the authors' experiences as nurses and advanced practice providers caring for patients who received midostaurin during these key clinical trials. FINDINGS: Nausea and vomiting are the most frequent nonhematologic adverse events reported with midostaurin; therefore, administer midostaurin with antiemetics, and recommend taking it with food. Care should be taken when midostaurin is coadministered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Everyday life and mastocytosis from a patient perspective-a qualitative study.

AIM: To investigate and gain knowledge about patients' perspectives on everyday life with mastocytosis and how they experience, understand and manage symptoms and challenges. BACKGROUND: Indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) is a disease characterised by the accumulation and activation of mast cells. Symptoms are diverse and range from mild to severely debilitating or even fatal. It is considered rare but is underdiagnosed due to lack of awareness. Quantitative studies have shown that ISM can negatively impact quality of life. No qualitative studies have described everyday life with the disease. DESIGN: A qualitative interview study taking a phenomenological approach. METHODS: Seven qualitative, semi-structured interviews with adult patients with ISM. The analysis was inspired by Giorgi's phenomenological method. COREQ reporting guidelines were used. RESULTS: Three themes and five subthemes emerged from the analysis. (a) The everyday life with a rare disease, unknown to most people. Being perceived as a hypochondriac in the encounter with the health system. The diagnosis makes a difference. Expert knowledge is important. (b) Living with and handling the invisible and visible symptoms. The visible body. (c) Fearing an attack. Feeling safe and vulnerable at the same time. CONCLUSION: Patients with ISM are severely affected in their everyday lives, especially in terms of their relationship with family and social network. Symptoms restrict and complicate activities and participation in social contexts, and the fear of an anaphylactic attack is always present. The disease affects patients' self-perception and sexuality. The rarity of the disease and general low awareness seems to be of great importance in the encounter with the healthcare system, both before and after diagnosis, and there is a need for expert knowledge, support and care. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: The focus of counselling should not only be on the disease itself, but also on living life with the disease.