My wife's doctors are recommending that she undergo a salvage allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant now that the Darzalex, Pomalyst, and dexamethasone regimen is not working.
I understand that it is more common in Europe to do allogeneic transplants than here in the United States.
We would appreciate any advice or experiences people might be able to share that might help us as we consider our options going forward.
My wife is currently 56. She was diagnosed with MGUS in 2000, multiple myeloma in 2006, underwent autologous transplants in 2012 and 2015. She has many lesions, including one entering the spinal canal, causing pain down her left leg. Still seeking pain relief solution.
Forums
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: Salvage allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant
I am actually surprised there are doctors out that still discuss allo transplants as "therapy of last resort". I have met / heard of a lot of patients that were cured / had a positive experience when doing an allo transplant in CR1 (first complete response) for different blood cancers. I had a very positive experience with allo transplant in first complete response. I have met a few / seen studies that show patients that were cured when doing an allo in CR2.
We have someone here in the forum (LibbyC) who did an allo as part of her upfront therapy, but was not in remission, yet still had a positive outcome. And CindyB had a positive experience doing an allo as part of her upfront therapy.
I have never actually met a patient who was cured / had a positive experience when doing an allo transplant as "therapy of last resort".
My point is I doubt you will find anyone that had a very positive experience using an allo in the manner you are discussing. You should ask the doctor recommending this if he/she has ever had a patient that did well when doing an allo transplant this late in the disease course, and who is no longer responding to chemotherapy. I would be curious if they ever had one.
Former Beacon columnist Arnold Goodman wrote about his experience using an allo transplant as therapy of last resort. This is probably as good of an experience as you could hope for using an allo as "therapy of last resort". You can find his columns at this link:
https://myelomabeacon.org/author/arnold-goodman/
We had a thread recently that was discussing allo transplant with a patient considering doing it as part of his upfront therapy.
"Mini allogeneic transplant after autologous transplant" (started Oct 13, 2016)
In my opinion, CindyB was 100% correct with this comment in that thread.
We have someone here in the forum (LibbyC) who did an allo as part of her upfront therapy, but was not in remission, yet still had a positive outcome. And CindyB had a positive experience doing an allo as part of her upfront therapy.
I have never actually met a patient who was cured / had a positive experience when doing an allo transplant as "therapy of last resort".
My point is I doubt you will find anyone that had a very positive experience using an allo in the manner you are discussing. You should ask the doctor recommending this if he/she has ever had a patient that did well when doing an allo transplant this late in the disease course, and who is no longer responding to chemotherapy. I would be curious if they ever had one.
Former Beacon columnist Arnold Goodman wrote about his experience using an allo transplant as therapy of last resort. This is probably as good of an experience as you could hope for using an allo as "therapy of last resort". You can find his columns at this link:
https://myelomabeacon.org/author/arnold-goodman/
We had a thread recently that was discussing allo transplant with a patient considering doing it as part of his upfront therapy.
"Mini allogeneic transplant after autologous transplant" (started Oct 13, 2016)
In my opinion, CindyB was 100% correct with this comment in that thread.
"Allo transplants done at relapse do not provide any benefit greater than other much easier options."
-
Mark11
Re: Salvage allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant
Thanks Mark for your help.
I read all of Arnold's columns and it is amazing how close his treatment track is to my wife's.
An allogeneic transplant seems like an incredibly difficult road late in the game, but it did give him 2 more years. I don't see that he regretted it.
Deciding to do an allo transplant is scary, but knowing my wife, she won't think twice about it.
Thanks again for guiding us to Arnold's columns.
I read all of Arnold's columns and it is amazing how close his treatment track is to my wife's.
An allogeneic transplant seems like an incredibly difficult road late in the game, but it did give him 2 more years. I don't see that he regretted it.
Deciding to do an allo transplant is scary, but knowing my wife, she won't think twice about it.
Thanks again for guiding us to Arnold's columns.
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Return to Treatments & Side Effects