Canadian perspective on managing multiple myeloma during the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned and future considerations.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has necessitated changes to the way patients with chronic diseases are managed. Given that patients with multiple myeloma are at increased risk of covid-19 infection and related complications, national bodies and experts around the globe have made recommendations for risk mitigation strategies for those vulnerable patients. Understandably, because of the novelty of the virus, many of the proposed risk mitigation strategies have thus far been reactionary and cannot be supported by strong evidence. In this editorial, we highlight some of the risk mitigation strategies implemented at our institutions across Canada during the first wave of covid-19, and we discuss the considerations that should be made when managing patients during the second wave and beyond.

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2020 Multimed Inc.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES We have read and understood Current Oncology’s policy on disclosing conflicts of interest, and we declare the following interests: Medical writing support provided by SD and AC of impact Medicom Inc. was funded by Janssen Canada. RF has participated in advisory boards for Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Teva, and Novartis. RK has received honoraria from Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb and Janssen, and has participated on advisory boards for Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Novartis, Takeda, and Sanofi. KS has received grant support from Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb and has received honoraria from Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Amgen, Gilead, and GlaxoSmithKline. CPV has received honoraria from Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, and Takeda. DW has received honoraria from Amgen, Antengene, Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Karyopharm, Sanofi, and Takeda. DER has participated on advisory boards for Amgen, Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Takeda, and Karyopharm; has received research funding from Amgen, Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Merck, Otsuka, and Takeda; and has received honoraria from Amgen, Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, and Takeda.