Do you have to go back on Revlimid? One of the main reasons I did the upfront allo was so I could stop putting the toxins in my body. I can see a relapsed patient using some type of maintenance after an allo but I am not so sure patients using it to consolidate first CR need it . The allo studies done on myeloma to date are usually done on patients not CR, so IMO that explains the relapses. I was not part of a clinical trial so I was free to make any decision I was comfortable with.
Hi Mark, Sorry I missed your post when you made it a couple of weeks ago.
It is a difficult decision whether or not to take the Revlimid for a year's maintenance. I'm like you, a big reason to do the allo is to have drug-free remission, and maybe cure. And though there is a higher than average relapse rate post allo in the first year or two, as you say study data is not there for those in first CR going into the allo. I guess it is one of the questions the trial I am part of might highlight.
I can still decide to stop the Revlimid if I want to, I would just have to withdraw from the trial though, but for now I'm going to continue with it. It's a low dose and I think of it as a short-term pain for long-term gain. But like many treatment choices with multiple myeloma, I just don't know what is best, if I am doing any harm taking the Revlimid. But I'm certainly happy right now that I've done the allo.
Best wishes, and thanks for you comments!
Laura
