[lmorden]

Advice, reassurance

by lmorden on Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:16 pm

I am new to this site. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in Oct. 2008 at the age of 52. I was placed on Revlimid and Dex for 7 months and it worked extremely well. May 2009 I had an auto stem cell transplant. My oncologist put me back on Revlimid only around August 2009 and I have been on it until Dec. 2011. Due to all the research about secondary cancers my oncologist and I, with the suggestion of some specialists in Washington where I had my SCT, have decided to go off the Revlimid for the next 3 months and see what happens. At that time we will do another bone marrow transplant, last one was May 2010 with 6% plasma. According to my doctor it was mixed and nothing showing active multiple myeloma.

My multiple myeloma is IGD which the majority of multiple myeloma patients do not have and I am kappa lamda.

Here is my need for advice and reassurance. Am I doing the right thing by going off the Revlimid? It has seemed to keep my multiple myeloma under control. My IGD numbers have been slightly increasing the last year but they are still really low.
4/11/11 – 20
7/15/11 – 24
10/26/11 – 35
12/28/11 – 41
My Kappa Lambda is .41

Thank you for your responses.

[Christina]

Re: Advice, reassurance

by Christina on Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:40 pm

After I relapsed,idid rev/ dex for 9 months.achievedCR.I went off in may 2011 and am now just showing a very small rise .1 m protein. I was very glad to be off all treatment,as I felt it gave my body a chance to regroup. My onc/hem was all for going off after I had the 0 m spike for 4 months straight. He monitored me every 6 weeks. Were all different, but I think if youaregetting a blood test every 6 weeks or so if anything shows up, you'll be able to change your protocol.
Best wishes
Christina