Clarifying the Role of Maintenance Therapy

Maintenance therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia, particularly those who are ineligible for transplant, can be critical to treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Thomas LeBlanc, MD, hematologic oncologist, associate professor of Medicine, and associate professor in Population Health Sciences at Duke Cancer Institute, about the importance of keeping patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first remission as long as possible through maintenance therapy.   "You have to be aware of the benefits of maintenance therapy…and for patients who are being considered for transplant but who do not end up getting a transplant, it should really be the default option that those patients receive a maintenance therapy." –Thomas W. LeBlanc, MD   Guest:         Thomas W. LeBlanc, MD Hematologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences Duke Cancer Network, Duke Cancer Institute Durham, North Carolina   This is the fourth and final episode of a four-part series developed in connection with the ACCC education program Achieving and Maintaining Better Outcomes for Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. This episode was made possible with support by Bristol Myers-Squibb.   Additional Reading/Sources Improving Care Delivery for Transplant-Ineligible Patients with AML AML Care Coordination in the Community Setting [Video Podcast] Critical Conversation Strategies for Patients with AML [Video Podcast] Strategies to Addressing Disparities in Patients with AML [Video Podcast] Shared Decision-making in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Achieving and Maintaining Better Outcomes for Patients with AML Talking about Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Cancer Support Community) Shared Decision-making: Practical Implementation for the Oncology Team (ACCC)