I am new to this forum. My husband is in remission from multiple myeloma. He was diagnosed in Jul.2011, after which he went through 4 sessions of chemotherapy with velcade-dexa-revilimid combination. In Nov. 2011, he had his first transplant and started being on clinical trial and had a tandem (2nd) transplant in Feb. 2012. Since then he is on revilimid maintainance. He was started with 15mg., notwithstanding, reduced to 10mg. and for the past few months is reduced to 5mg.
He is able to work fulltime, exercises everyday, no problems in eating. This is his introduction. He is able to be sexually active also. I am in my post menopause. I used to have good immunity. For the past few months, my immunity levels have gone down and I get sick more easily and often. My recent blood report showed the neutrophyll count as low which hasnt been the case until now. My husband and I have a question to the forum - is our being sexually active causes the revilimid to get into my system affecting my immunity? Thanks.
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Re: Does Revlimid affect the spouse?
Hard to imagine that such a tiny fraction of Revlimid in your spouse's system would have any effect. Think about the dilution. Your husband takes Revlimid, which is absorbed from his blood into all body tissues, including bone marrow. While the drug can damage sperm cells, I don't easily see how such trace amounts in sperm would have a significant effect on a partner's body.
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Whatsamatteru
Re: Does Revlimid affect the spouse?
Since Celgene issues a strong warning about Revlimid being carried in the sperm of men who take it, I would think your suspicions may be correct. The warnings I have seen have to do with concerns of possible birth defects if a woman becomes pregnant, but to me, other harmful possibilities could exist.
If I were you, I would suspend unprotected intercourse until you find out what is going on.
If I were you, I would suspend unprotected intercourse until you find out what is going on.
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Denise H
Re: Does Revlimid affect the spouse?
You may need to do a blind study on this. Have your husband get a girlfriend and stop intimacy with you. After six months draw the blood and find out if yours is now better and the girlfriends is worse. 
There are several of us on Rev maintenance who have discussed this and our spouses have had no issues with their blood chemistry.
There are several of us on Rev maintenance who have discussed this and our spouses have had no issues with their blood chemistry.
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JBarnes - Name: Jerry Barnes
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Aug 17, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Does Revlimid affect the spouse?
Thanks. This is the first time I am discussing this somewhere, leave alone with somebody.
Your sense of humour is good!
Your sense of humour is good!
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pym - Name: pym
- Who do you know with myeloma?: spouse
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2011
Re: Does Revlimid affect the spouse?
Yes, humor is good, but some people are more sensitive than others to exposure to various substances/chemicals. I would err on the side of caution. It wouldn't hurt to protect against the exposure and see if the neuts come up.
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Denise H
Re: Does Revlimid affect the spouse?
Not to scare anyone, but I found evidence that multiple myeloma may be transmittable to spouses. Some of the reported incidents occurred in 50's other's 1990's. I took into account the term "reported incidents" to mean there could be other incidents which have not been reported.
I did not subscribe to the site below -- the chart reflected enough information for me. Perhaps the best thing to do is to see our physicians to be tested. Does not mean divorce, but may want to consider condoms.
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=577917
Wishing you the best possible outcome,
Concerned Consumer
I did not subscribe to the site below -- the chart reflected enough information for me. Perhaps the best thing to do is to see our physicians to be tested. Does not mean divorce, but may want to consider condoms.
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=577917
Wishing you the best possible outcome,
Concerned Consumer
Re: Does Revlimid affect the spouse?
Consumer---Dang, where is my Ex ??
She took so much from us already, ...I should forgive her and share my multiple myeloma with her !
MY CD 38 , CD 20, and CD 19 are hers...( and she thought it was merely Bank Investments--Ha!)
Pym--Seriously, the 1/2 life of Revlimid is 3 hrs. It eliminates from the body via kidneys/ ureters. It is, however, a drug that accumulates a bit in fat & tissue. Takes about 4 + weeks to flush from the body. The Thalomide issues are/ were thought to be more involved at the formation stage of the Zygote, and the subsequent Uro-genital split and the Budding process. ( ANTI-GENESIS) That is why there were so many limb deformities in children.
Nothing I have ever read, indicates toxicity to others--other than the reproductive process above. But, I guess anything is possible. You'd think the FDA would have looked at that, before approving Revlimid.
PYM---I guess you'll have to "enroll your husband in a personal study"--make him wear condoms, you don't handle them, and see what happens to your blood work/ symptoms for 4 weeks and 8 weeks. ??
Then again, what was that Woody Allen flick--where they wore full body condoms --and didn't even exchange saliva ???
I laaaughhh at the celgene survey every month--I ask the rep if I could get an RX for sex, too. Condoms and all.
No response, just yet.
Good luck.
She took so much from us already, ...I should forgive her and share my multiple myeloma with her !
MY CD 38 , CD 20, and CD 19 are hers...( and she thought it was merely Bank Investments--Ha!)
Pym--Seriously, the 1/2 life of Revlimid is 3 hrs. It eliminates from the body via kidneys/ ureters. It is, however, a drug that accumulates a bit in fat & tissue. Takes about 4 + weeks to flush from the body. The Thalomide issues are/ were thought to be more involved at the formation stage of the Zygote, and the subsequent Uro-genital split and the Budding process. ( ANTI-GENESIS) That is why there were so many limb deformities in children.
Nothing I have ever read, indicates toxicity to others--other than the reproductive process above. But, I guess anything is possible. You'd think the FDA would have looked at that, before approving Revlimid.
PYM---I guess you'll have to "enroll your husband in a personal study"--make him wear condoms, you don't handle them, and see what happens to your blood work/ symptoms for 4 weeks and 8 weeks. ??
Then again, what was that Woody Allen flick--where they wore full body condoms --and didn't even exchange saliva ???
I laaaughhh at the celgene survey every month--I ask the rep if I could get an RX for sex, too. Condoms and all.
No response, just yet.
Good luck.
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Rneb
Re: Does Revlimid affect the spouse?
Concerned Consumer wrote: "Not to scare anyone, but I found evidence that multiple myeloma may be transmittable to spouses ..."
Woah, stop the bus! Is there anything more current than this? It is very scary to think multiple myeloma could be transmissible but I am skeptical this is the case or you would think there would be more information and doctors would warn us.
Best wishes to all,
Kim
Woah, stop the bus! Is there anything more current than this? It is very scary to think multiple myeloma could be transmissible but I am skeptical this is the case or you would think there would be more information and doctors would warn us.
Best wishes to all,
Kim
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kjpoppit - Name: Kim Nelson
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept. 19th, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 47
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