Myeloma is a team sport

Your medical team

Haematologists and oncologists are specialist doctors who have extensive training and experience in diagnosing and treating people with blood conditions and cancers like myeloma. Within your team, there will be other doctors such as trainee doctors (registrars) and other medical officers, who will also provide care.

Specialist nurses have further training in cancer and myeloma. They coordinate your care, help you manage any side effects, and provide education and support to you and your carer. Not all hospitals will have a specialist nurse as part of the team.

Registered nurses work in the inpatient or outpatient wards, administering medicines and supporting your overall health and wellbeing. They also provide education about side effects and how to manage them.

Hospital pharmacists dispense your prescribed medicines and help you understand the safest way to take medicines and manage any side effects.

The palliative care team supports you and the treating team with managing side effects such as pain and nausea. The palliative care team is a support service during your whole experience of myeloma, not just at the end of life.

Radiation oncologists are doctors who prescribe and plan radiotherapy. Not everyone with myeloma will need radiotherapy – only those who have a specific area that is particularly painful or unstable

Allied healthcare professionals

Dietitians can help with issues such as taste changes, loss of appetite, weight loss, weight gain, and managing diabetes. They can develop a personalised eating plan for you, helping you to get all the different nutrients you need. 

Exercise physiologists (EPs) and physiotherapists (physios) can guide you on safe ways to exercise and build strength within any limitations caused by myeloma and any other health conditions you may have. 

Occupational therapists (OTs) can help you to develop, recover, or maintain activities that are important to you. These may be activities at home, work or in the community. An OT can assess your situation and then help you come up with practical ways to make all types of everyday activities more manageable. OTs can also provide advice on pacing yourself and managing fatigue. 

Psychologists and counsellors provide important emotional support to help you manage the challenges of living with a chronic illness. They can help you work through your feelings, especially if you’re feeling anxious or depressed. 

Social workers provide emotional and practical support, helping you to access other helpful services such as financial support and advance care planning.

Podiatrists help to keep the skin and nails on your feet comfortable and free from infection. This is especially important if you have peripheral neuropathy.

Community healthcare team

Your general practitioner (GP), also called a family doctor, plays a very important role in overseeing all your health conditions, including myeloma. It’s important to have a regular GP to help you stay on top of your regular health screening, vaccinations and prescriptions. The hospital team will provide regular updates to your GP.

Community pharmacists can help you to understand more about your prescription and over-the-counter medicines – and how to use them correctly and safely. For consistency of care, it can be a good idea to use the same local pharmacist. There may be some medicines that are only dispensed by the hospital pharmacy.

Myeloma Australia’s Specialist Myeloma Nurses provide education, dedicated support, empowerment and advocacy for you and your loved ones. They also offer the opportunity for you to connect with other people living with myeloma through support groups, seminars and community events.