My mother was due to have cataract surgery in the month of May this year, but was then diagnosed with multiple myeloma. She is currently on the cyclophosphamide, bortezomib (Velcade), and dexamethasone (CyBorD) treatment regimen (third cycle done).
I asked her oncologist and he said that he can give permission for the same only after he confirms her remission.
I'm wondering, however, why it's necessary to wait until remission for such surgery.
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Re: Cataract surgery during or after myeloma treatment?
Only a guess, but your mother's oncologist is probably worried about infection.
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kshornb - Name: kshornber
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Cataract surgery during or after myeloma treatment?
I had surgery on both eyes and had no problems. I got shingles in my left eye 2 years after I had them done.
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Baldy4518 - Name: Johnny
- Who do you know with myeloma?: No one
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: Cataract surgery during or after myeloma treatment?
That's probably true about infections, even though it was the dexamethasone that exacerbated my cataracts, both my oncologist and my ophthalmologist had me wait until I had finished the 'induction' phase of my myeloma treatment before they OK'd the surgery.
So, I had six cycles of induction therapy and, about a month before my stem cell transplant, I got the "new eyes.'
Oh, I do love being able to see!
So, I had six cycles of induction therapy and, about a month before my stem cell transplant, I got the "new eyes.'
Oh, I do love being able to see!
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Cataract surgery during or after myeloma treatment?
In my mother's case, she had cataracts in both the eyes and the ophthalmologist suggested it would be nice to remove them as early as possible. During the same time she was being treated with Velcade and dexamethasone weekly after she had a compression fracture in her vertebrae. The oncologist stopped her treatment for 3 weeks in between, had her tested for platelets and other parameters, and then allowed her to go for the surgery. A week after surgery of her second eye, she again resumed with her treatment regimen.
Re: Cataract surgery during or after myeloma treatment?
Thank you for your replies. That gave me some peace of mind. I was worried about her eyes if she could not at all go for cataract surgery.
Re: Cataract surgery during or after myeloma treatment?
My husband developed a cataract, likely due to treatment, and his doctor at Mayo said he just had to wait until 100 days after his stem cell transplant because of infection concerns. He is on Darzalex, Revlimid, and dexamethasone and is not in remission, and they don't seem to be concerned about stopping any medications or anything. My understanding is that if they are concerned about infections, they could do a prophylactic antibiotic. He wants to do the surgery soon, and the eye doctor made it sound like it was quick and easy and painless, so hopefully that is the case.
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mplsterrapin - Name: Ari
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Fall 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Cataract surgery during or after myeloma treatment?
Thanks Ari. I will ask about the prophylactic antibiotic and if it can be given in case any urgent need arises.
Re: Cataract surgery during or after myeloma treatment?
Well, it is fairly quick and easy, and pretty painless, too, though not completely 'annoyance free.' They would only do one eye at a time for me (I think that's standard), and I had to wait for two weeks between surgeries. So I walked around with my old glasses, needing the old really strong lenses for one eye, and having no lens at all for the other, so that I could actually SEE things.
It was an interesting couple of weeks, I'll say that.
I still wear glasses most of the time, because I live my life either in front of the computer, knitting, reading, quilting, crocheting, or teaching stuff online.
That's OK though. When I take a break to gaze out the window, I get to take those glasses OFF.
Lovely.
It was an interesting couple of weeks, I'll say that.
I still wear glasses most of the time, because I live my life either in front of the computer, knitting, reading, quilting, crocheting, or teaching stuff online.
That's OK though. When I take a break to gaze out the window, I get to take those glasses OFF.
Lovely.
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
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