For the past few months, we have heard off and on about a debate that took place at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) between Dr. Bart Barlogie of UAMS and Dr. Vincent Rajkumar of the Mayo Clinic.
Well, videos of the debate finally have been made available. There are five of them altogether. We have posted each of them in an individual thread, where comments and discussion about each individual can take place.
In addition, this thread can be used for a general discussion of the different points made in the videos.
What do you think about the points made in the debate? Which points were most important or convincing to you? Which were the least important or convincing?
Also, here are links to the forum threads with each of the five videos covering the debate:
Barlogie-Rajkumar Myeloma Cure Debate - Part 1 (Introduction)
Barlogie-Rajkumar Myeloma Cure Debate - Part 2 (Barlogie, Part 1)
Barlogie-Rajkumar Myeloma Cure Debate - Part 3 (Barlogie, Part 2)
Barlogie-Rajkumar Myeloma Cure Debate - Part 4 (Rajkumar, Part 1)
Barlogie-Rajkumar Myeloma Cure Debate - Part 5 (Rajkumar, Part 2, and Q&A)
Forums
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: Barlogie-Rajkumar "Is Myeloma Curable" Debate
Thanks Beacon Staff for providing this debate.
It is interesting to listen to how Barlogie has done the most radical of treatments and yet the overall survival is not any greater than for patients who received far less aggressive therapy.
I did like that Rajkumar challenged Barlogie to a randomized clinical trial in order to do a true scientific evaluation of TT1-3 vs. other conventional myeloma therapy. Historically, Barlogie has been quite inflexible about using this universally accepted method to establish the efficacy of his protocols.
Based on the debate, it does seem clear that for 70% of patients conventional therapy with or without a CR is sufficient and those patients can feel confident of having longer progression free survival while enjoying a wonderful quality of life, with even a delayed SCT.
High risk patients should be given the opportunity to choose..as outcomes are poor on both sides.
However, it would be nice if high-risk patients were a population that Rajkumar and Barlogie selected to determine if overall survival "cure" is possible, especially as Barlogie is 'claiming' to see a plateau in the subset of patients that are not high risk at this juncture.
Will Barlogie rise to the challenge of RCT for high risk myeloma patients, that is the $64K question.
It is interesting to listen to how Barlogie has done the most radical of treatments and yet the overall survival is not any greater than for patients who received far less aggressive therapy.
I did like that Rajkumar challenged Barlogie to a randomized clinical trial in order to do a true scientific evaluation of TT1-3 vs. other conventional myeloma therapy. Historically, Barlogie has been quite inflexible about using this universally accepted method to establish the efficacy of his protocols.
Based on the debate, it does seem clear that for 70% of patients conventional therapy with or without a CR is sufficient and those patients can feel confident of having longer progression free survival while enjoying a wonderful quality of life, with even a delayed SCT.
High risk patients should be given the opportunity to choose..as outcomes are poor on both sides.
However, it would be nice if high-risk patients were a population that Rajkumar and Barlogie selected to determine if overall survival "cure" is possible, especially as Barlogie is 'claiming' to see a plateau in the subset of patients that are not high risk at this juncture.
Will Barlogie rise to the challenge of RCT for high risk myeloma patients, that is the $64K question.
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suzierose - Name: suzierose
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2 sept 2011
Re: Barlogie-Rajkumar "Is Myeloma Curable" Debate
I can't say I understood everything in this debate, but one thing is clear to this myeloma patient: "The future ain't what it used to be." I am glad of that, and a little optimistic of my future.
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Chip - Name: Chip
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 20 November 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Barlogie-Rajkumar "Is Myeloma Curable" Debate
I am an oncology nurse that was diagnosed with myeloma in nov 2008. I was sent to Dr Barlogie, in Arkansas for treatment. I had to be seperated from my husband and my three children for months, but I can honestly say,"He saved my life."
I have cared for many patients with myeloma with less aggressive txs and there is a difference.
Dr Barlogie has studied myeloma for years and is now working on TT6. He did not stop at TT3. He has adopted changes in therapy based on responses and symptom management.
As he described, for pts in the high risk category, outcomes are still limited. But for low risk pts, he has obtained remissions of > 10 years, which in other diagnoses would be called a cure. I have witnessed this in my practice and met pts from national centers or even international centers who have come to Dr Barlogie, after being told by other centers, including the Mayo Clinic, there was no hope for them and they should just accept it. Many of them are now years out, and looking and feeling great.
My husband and I have followed the research and I attend seminars from different centers. None of them have outcomes like Dr Barlogie!
I believe his age, years of experience and dedication to one disease has made a tremendous disease for all.
I have cared for many patients with myeloma with less aggressive txs and there is a difference.
Dr Barlogie has studied myeloma for years and is now working on TT6. He did not stop at TT3. He has adopted changes in therapy based on responses and symptom management.
As he described, for pts in the high risk category, outcomes are still limited. But for low risk pts, he has obtained remissions of > 10 years, which in other diagnoses would be called a cure. I have witnessed this in my practice and met pts from national centers or even international centers who have come to Dr Barlogie, after being told by other centers, including the Mayo Clinic, there was no hope for them and they should just accept it. Many of them are now years out, and looking and feeling great.
My husband and I have followed the research and I attend seminars from different centers. None of them have outcomes like Dr Barlogie!
I believe his age, years of experience and dedication to one disease has made a tremendous disease for all.
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1