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80 year old great great grandmother
My great grandmother was diagnosed with this horrible illness 2 days ago. She is 80 years old, soon to be bed ridden, already has a weak immune system and cannot undergo any form of treatment due to an infection. This wonderful woman raised 3 generations of children all on her own, with me being the youngest i would like to know of anyway to help her. How much time she may have considering circumstances? I have 2 children as of now and due to have a 3rd in 2 months and honestly im wondering if she can make it to see her soon to be great great grandchild. And if she can hold out would she be able to see the baby. I am sorry for this drawn out rant but i am not one to open up to people closer to me.
Re: 80 year old great great grandmother
Brian243,
I'm so sorry that at such a joyous time, you are having to deal with such hard news. You clearly love your great grandmother, and I know she is happy she has you.
You mention that she has a "weak immune system and cannot go any form of treatment due to an infection." Is this caused by the myeloma, or by something else?
Without knowing more, my instinct is to say don't give up hope. Myeloma can be slow to progress, which can give you time. EJ had to wait 8 - 10 weeks before he could start treatment because he needed to heal from surgery. If you can, take your great-grandmother to a hospital or oncologist that specializes in myeloma. They may be in a better position t help your great-grandmother.
All the best,
Lyn
I'm so sorry that at such a joyous time, you are having to deal with such hard news. You clearly love your great grandmother, and I know she is happy she has you.
You mention that she has a "weak immune system and cannot go any form of treatment due to an infection." Is this caused by the myeloma, or by something else?
Without knowing more, my instinct is to say don't give up hope. Myeloma can be slow to progress, which can give you time. EJ had to wait 8 - 10 weeks before he could start treatment because he needed to heal from surgery. If you can, take your great-grandmother to a hospital or oncologist that specializes in myeloma. They may be in a better position t help your great-grandmother.
All the best,
Lyn
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Christa's Mom - Name: Christa's Mom
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: 80 year old great great grandmother
The myeloma is the cause of the infection and the doc says that the abtibiotics arent working for the infection she was put in hospice last night to manage pain. The cancer center where i live only gave her weeks left to be with us.
Re: 80 year old great great grandmother
I'm very sorry to hear about your great grandmother's situation, Brian243.
The fact that your great grandmother is experiencing a severe infection is limiting the options her doctors have to treat her. Basically all approved myeloma drugs have an unfortunate side effect: they reduce the body's ability to product blood cells -- including white blood cells, which the body uses to fight infections.
So, if the doctors give your great grandmother treatment that will help against her myeloma, they very well could reduce further her ability to fight the infection.
Are there myeloma specialists involved with your great grandmother's care? In this situation -- more than ever -- you want to do all you can to make sure a specialist is involved in making decisions about her care. A specialist is more likely to have seen this situation in the past. Thus, they will have more ideas about how to balance, on the one hand, the patient's short-term need to be able to fight her current infection, with, on the other hand, the need to get the myeloma under control so the patient can survive in the long run.
I am asking whether a specialist is involved in part because I wonder if, given your great grandmother's prognosis, it might not be best to try some minimal treatment of her myeloma in an attempt to start getting it under control, rather than no treatment at all.
Minimal treatment might not have a major (negative) impact on her infection-fighting capability. However, because your mother is newly diagnosed, and because newly diagnosed myeloma is usually easier to treat than relapsed myeloma, just a little bit of treatment might kickstart the process of getting the myeloma under control.
I have no idea if this would work. I'm not a physician. But, given that the outcome of no treatment looks like it won't be very good at all, I have to wonder if trying just some treatment might not be better than trying nothing at all.
I wish you and your family the best of luck and hope that things soon take a turn for the better.
The fact that your great grandmother is experiencing a severe infection is limiting the options her doctors have to treat her. Basically all approved myeloma drugs have an unfortunate side effect: they reduce the body's ability to product blood cells -- including white blood cells, which the body uses to fight infections.
So, if the doctors give your great grandmother treatment that will help against her myeloma, they very well could reduce further her ability to fight the infection.
Are there myeloma specialists involved with your great grandmother's care? In this situation -- more than ever -- you want to do all you can to make sure a specialist is involved in making decisions about her care. A specialist is more likely to have seen this situation in the past. Thus, they will have more ideas about how to balance, on the one hand, the patient's short-term need to be able to fight her current infection, with, on the other hand, the need to get the myeloma under control so the patient can survive in the long run.
I am asking whether a specialist is involved in part because I wonder if, given your great grandmother's prognosis, it might not be best to try some minimal treatment of her myeloma in an attempt to start getting it under control, rather than no treatment at all.
Minimal treatment might not have a major (negative) impact on her infection-fighting capability. However, because your mother is newly diagnosed, and because newly diagnosed myeloma is usually easier to treat than relapsed myeloma, just a little bit of treatment might kickstart the process of getting the myeloma under control.
I have no idea if this would work. I'm not a physician. But, given that the outcome of no treatment looks like it won't be very good at all, I have to wonder if trying just some treatment might not be better than trying nothing at all.
I wish you and your family the best of luck and hope that things soon take a turn for the better.
Re: 80 year old great great grandmother
Hi Brian. I'm so sorry that your great grandmother received a diagnosis at this time of year.
As TerryH noted, myeloma treatments impact the body's ability to make blood cells, including infection-fighting white blood cells. Maybe they could start your great grandmother on Dexamethasone (which is a steroid and usually part of initial treatment), which can help to reduce pain.
As TerryH noted, myeloma treatments impact the body's ability to make blood cells, including infection-fighting white blood cells. Maybe they could start your great grandmother on Dexamethasone (which is a steroid and usually part of initial treatment), which can help to reduce pain.
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darnold - Name: Dana Arnold
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: 80 year old great great grandmother
Hi Brian, sorry to hear this news for your family. I don't know where your great grandmother live but I would suggest that the family try to get her another opinion. A wonderful facility is located in Little Rock, Arkansas called UAMS MIRT (University of Arkansas Medical Sciences/Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy). The Director of the program is Dr. Bart Barlogie. Although I am only 54 yrs.old and diagnosed with myeloma in 2011 I decided to go there for treatment and I live in Maryland. I met people much older than I and some were told by their doctors it was nothing else they could do for them. If nothing else I would contact UAMS MIRT to see if they could help you. Never give up hope. May God bless you and your family.
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Amelia - Name: Amelia
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: 80 year old great great grandmother
So sorry you received this news at this time o the year. Please keep positive. There are so many new drugs. Consult a specialist ASAP.
My husband has been diagnosed for two years and is 77 yrs old. Keep sibling.
prayers are sent.
My husband has been diagnosed for two years and is 77 yrs old. Keep sibling.
prayers are sent.
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Plm
Re: 80 year old great great grandmother
Please get a second opinion at a Cancer center from a hematology/oncology physician that specializes in Multiple Myeloma or blood cancers.
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wittnessj
Re: 80 year old great great grandmother
Dear Brian,
As others have stated I am so very sorry to hear of your great grandmothers diagnosis. I agree with all above that if it is at all possible take her to a specialist, if her health allows. I received my treatment at MD Anderson in Houston. My first oncologist there was Dr. Alexanian. He dedicated his entire medical career researching and developing treatment for multiple myeloma. He has since retired, and my new oncologist is Dr. Roy Jones. I received treatment beginning in May and had my stem cell transplant in August. I am currently in complete remission. I am 56. MD Anderson is the leading cancer hospital in the country.
Myeloma treatment destroys the bodies immune system making infections very dangerous. Consult a specialist if you can. Prayers be with you and your family.
As others have stated I am so very sorry to hear of your great grandmothers diagnosis. I agree with all above that if it is at all possible take her to a specialist, if her health allows. I received my treatment at MD Anderson in Houston. My first oncologist there was Dr. Alexanian. He dedicated his entire medical career researching and developing treatment for multiple myeloma. He has since retired, and my new oncologist is Dr. Roy Jones. I received treatment beginning in May and had my stem cell transplant in August. I am currently in complete remission. I am 56. MD Anderson is the leading cancer hospital in the country.
Myeloma treatment destroys the bodies immune system making infections very dangerous. Consult a specialist if you can. Prayers be with you and your family.
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tsmac26
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