Obviously treatments for older patients will vary but it would be good to hear from people over 70!
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Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
My Mother was diagnosed last November and has gone from a fit, active 80 year old to someone who can barely walk. Last Summer she was playing tennis 3 times a week
Obviously treatments for older patients will vary but it would be good to hear from people over 70!
Obviously treatments for older patients will vary but it would be good to hear from people over 70!
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AmandaDB - Name: AmandaDB
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 80
Re: Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
I was 65 when I was diagnosed. I'm now 70 and in remission after two rounds of chemo and a stem cell transplant. Your mom will feel better after she gets some treatment. The new drugs really battle back this disease.
I had a fractured neck vertebrae and high M spike at diagnosis. After about a month of chemo, I began to feel a lot better.
One of the nice things about getting multiple myeloma late in life is that our "normal" life span is close to the life span of multiple myeloma, and we can even expect to outlive it!
My best to your mother. Treatment WILL make her feel better! Don't let her give up!
Julia
I had a fractured neck vertebrae and high M spike at diagnosis. After about a month of chemo, I began to feel a lot better.
One of the nice things about getting multiple myeloma late in life is that our "normal" life span is close to the life span of multiple myeloma, and we can even expect to outlive it!
My best to your mother. Treatment WILL make her feel better! Don't let her give up!
Julia
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Jubyanne - Name: Julia Munson
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself, son's mother-in-law
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Spring 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
Thanks for your encouraging reply Julia. What is worrying me slightly is that, despite monthly drips to strengthen her bones, a recent x-ray showed lytic lesions in both her femurs and she's just had a prophylactic femoral nail inserted into her left one with a view to do the same to the right one in about 6 weeks. I thought the treatment (she started in November) would have begun to take effect by now? Am I being overly optimistic?
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AmandaDB - Name: AmandaDB
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 80
Re: Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
I am 89 years old. First diagnosed 7 months ago with smoldering multiple myeloma but quickly accepted for clinical trials because of light chain involvement. Your mother may be very anemic or having bone pain and the psychological effect of knowing she has cancer. I myself am very careful because of the fragility of the bones due to this illness. It may be enough to control her present activities.
Have you discussed this with her physician and do you have all the information you should have about the degree of damage she has already suffered?
I wish you both good days ahead. Plan homebound activities, like board games or doing hobbies together to occupy her mind. My user name is Charrho and I live in Chevy Chase, Md.
Have you discussed this with her physician and do you have all the information you should have about the degree of damage she has already suffered?
I wish you both good days ahead. Plan homebound activities, like board games or doing hobbies together to occupy her mind. My user name is Charrho and I live in Chevy Chase, Md.
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charrho - Name: Rhoda Scoen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 88
Re: Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
Hi I was in my mid 60's when diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Was on thalidomide and dex. for ten months. Went into remission and have stayed that way for 9 years, although I do have residual damage from the multiple myeloma and the drugs. I am now 4 inches (10 cm) shorter and have back pain any time I stand. Also have trouble walking due to severe problems with the bottom of my feet. Believe it's side effects of the dex, but no proof of that.
I am 74 years old and still able to mow my acre (0.4 hectare) lawn with a riding mower and drive my 1953 Ford F-100 pickup, so things are not too bleak. I do spend a lot of time on the computer – lots of knowledge to be learned here.
Good luck to you and Mom. Best regards N.G.
I am 74 years old and still able to mow my acre (0.4 hectare) lawn with a riding mower and drive my 1953 Ford F-100 pickup, so things are not too bleak. I do spend a lot of time on the computer – lots of knowledge to be learned here.
Good luck to you and Mom. Best regards N.G.
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Nipon Ginko - Name: Nipon Ginko
- Who do you know with myeloma?: ME
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2004
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
AmandaDG - My mom was 75 when diagnosed in 2011. Square dancing twice a week, doing deep water aerobics. She suffered a bout with shingles 9 months ahead of her diagnosis, which complicates things further, and contracted asthma during the same year. But we thought we could battle down those issues through perseverance.
But the multiple myeloma has been that straw that has weakened her and sapped her strength. Leeching minerals like potassium at times, dehydration at times, dizziness. Continuing decrease of energy and continuing loss of ability to walk. The worst part lately is lack of appetite, insomnia, and overall daily 'malaise' - she 'just doesn't feel good' - but it's hard to describe that to any doctor. Lab work is coming out ok, don't think this is viral. It's just an ongoing daily not-feeling-good and lack of energy that have caused her inability to participate in any part of life as she knew it prior to diagnosis.
She's frustrated and we're heartbroken seeing this happen to her and not knowing what we can do to help her feel better.
But the multiple myeloma has been that straw that has weakened her and sapped her strength. Leeching minerals like potassium at times, dehydration at times, dizziness. Continuing decrease of energy and continuing loss of ability to walk. The worst part lately is lack of appetite, insomnia, and overall daily 'malaise' - she 'just doesn't feel good' - but it's hard to describe that to any doctor. Lab work is coming out ok, don't think this is viral. It's just an ongoing daily not-feeling-good and lack of energy that have caused her inability to participate in any part of life as she knew it prior to diagnosis.
She's frustrated and we're heartbroken seeing this happen to her and not knowing what we can do to help her feel better.
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WildGreen
Re: Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
I am 72 and have had multiple myeloma for three years. Although a candidate for SCT when diagnosed, I have had difficulty harvesting any stem cells. I have gone through five rounds of treatment and each one ended with hospitalization.
"We" have decided to stop fighting the disease, since I do not tolerate the agents very well, and treat the symptoms. For me, the symptoms are anemia, so that occasional RBC transfusions are necessary. As my oncologist explained to me, "Would you prefer to live longer with a poor quality of life, or live a shorter length of time with a better quality of life". This question is particularly relevant to seniors who generally already have other health "issues," and all multiple myeloma chemo agents have terrible side effects.
I have been terribly disturbed by the lack of individualization of the dosage regimens given to patients. With the time left to me, I am trying to change the dosing paradigm used by oncologists so that quality of life plays an important role in the amount of medicines given to us.
"We" have decided to stop fighting the disease, since I do not tolerate the agents very well, and treat the symptoms. For me, the symptoms are anemia, so that occasional RBC transfusions are necessary. As my oncologist explained to me, "Would you prefer to live longer with a poor quality of life, or live a shorter length of time with a better quality of life". This question is particularly relevant to seniors who generally already have other health "issues," and all multiple myeloma chemo agents have terrible side effects.
I have been terribly disturbed by the lack of individualization of the dosage regimens given to patients. With the time left to me, I am trying to change the dosing paradigm used by oncologists so that quality of life plays an important role in the amount of medicines given to us.
Re: Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
Hi to garyblau. Good luck on your adventure in changing any thing - the Trolls hate that.
As long as you are at it tilting at windmills, you might venture completely out into realm of the twilight zone and see if you can get them to try a treatment that has proven successful in several other diseases - Parkinson being one - and that treatment is using fat cells from the stomach area and turning them into stem cells. They are able to get billions this way with no adverse effects to the donor (that being you), other than a slimmer waist line.
My nephew is being treated successfully in this manner for Parkinson disease. My understanding is that each treatment co$ts about $7,000. If you would like any further info on this treatment, post in this column of next MB (link). N.G.
As long as you are at it tilting at windmills, you might venture completely out into realm of the twilight zone and see if you can get them to try a treatment that has proven successful in several other diseases - Parkinson being one - and that treatment is using fat cells from the stomach area and turning them into stem cells. They are able to get billions this way with no adverse effects to the donor (that being you), other than a slimmer waist line.
My nephew is being treated successfully in this manner for Parkinson disease. My understanding is that each treatment co$ts about $7,000. If you would like any further info on this treatment, post in this column of next MB (link). N.G.
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Nipon Ginko - Name: Nipon Ginko
- Who do you know with myeloma?: ME
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2004
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
Dear N.G. Sounds fascinating. I am not trying trying anything that complex. I simply want the oncology docs to consider the uptake, distribution, metabolism and elimination of medicines from my body rather than giving me the dose regimen for the "average" patient. What I have learned is that I am anything but average. I do know something about math modeling and statistics, and that is what I am bringing to the game. Now all I need do is get the community to listen. 
Re: Any elderly multiple myeloma patients here?
Hello charrho,
My mother, 85 and in relatively good health (she's very thin and light-boned) was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma and also lives in Chevy Chase, her doctor is Dr. Bruce Kessel. I saw your post and wanted to reach out to you, as she has just begun treatment and thought I could trade any information that could help her out.
Best of health to all of you.
My mother, 85 and in relatively good health (she's very thin and light-boned) was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma and also lives in Chevy Chase, her doctor is Dr. Bruce Kessel. I saw your post and wanted to reach out to you, as she has just begun treatment and thought I could trade any information that could help her out.
Best of health to all of you.
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