Patient-Nurse Relationships Are ‘Key to Proper Management of an MPN’

Good relationships between patients and oncology nurses may be the key to managing a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), according to Patrick Buxton.

Buxton, who is a clinical nurse manager at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle and a 2023 MPN Hero, explained that open communication with oncology nurses is essential when managing the life-long disease. Patients can communicate with their nurses regarding symptoms, which can lead to getting their labs checked via bloodwork.

READ MORE: Discussing MPN Side Effects With the Care Team Aids in Personalized Care

“Talk to (your oncology nurse) and become invested with each other, because having that relationship is key in proper management of an MPN,” Buxton said in an interview with CURE® before the 11th annual MPN Heroes® recognition event.

Transcript

Establish relationships with your nurse; talk to them and become invested with each other, because having that relationship is key in proper management of an MPN because it can get to a point where if you call and say, “Hey, I feel a little bit more sluggish today, I think I need to have my labs checked because I think this is creeping up again,” you can get that point with a nurse. And labs are always easy to check. You know, getting poked is not fun. But quality of life is critically important with these conditions because they're lifelong, unfortunately.

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