[dalelong]

Alkeran (melphalan) and prednisone treatment

by dalelong on Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:43 pm

I am relapsed and am currently on a 6 week cycle of Alkeran [melphalan] and prednisone. My img at start of this treatment was 5677 (July 2013). My last labs as of February 25 2014: img is 2652.

Two questions:

Is Alkeran being used generally as a treatment?
Any negative side effects to be aware of?

I am very happy with the reduction of the img and I am feeling MUCH better as the numbers come down.

I have no bone lesions detectable with x ray and normal calcium levels. B2-m 3.79, Albumin 3.4.

At diagnosis my treatment was Velcade, followed by Revlimid. The Velcade had no effect on my high img. The Revlimid brought down the img to close to zero and then img started rising.

[Dr. Edward Libby]

Re: Alkeran (melphalan) and prednisone treatment

by Dr. Edward Libby on Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:43 pm

Hello from Seattle,

Short answer: Oral Alkeran (melphalan) is still a useful drug in myeloma. The major side effect to be aware of is low blood counts.