title: Gastrointestinal side effects associated with novel therapies in patients with multiple myeloma: consensus statement of the IMF Nurse Leadership Board.
abstract: The novel immunomodulatory drugs lenalidomide and thalidomide and the novel proteasome inhibitor bortezomib can cause gastrointestinal side effects, including constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, which can have a deleterious effect on quality of life and interfere with optimal therapy. The International Myeloma Foundation's Nurse Leadership Board developed this consensus statement for the management of gastrointestinal side effects associated with novel therapies to be used by healthcare providers in any medical setting. It includes grading criteria and general recommendations for assessing and managing the side effects. Although constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are expected side effects associated with novel therapies for multiple myeloma, they are manageable with appropriate medical interventions.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Centers of the Carolinas, Greenville, SC, USA. lcsmith65@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lisa C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Page
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertolotti
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012956:Societies, Nursing
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents