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Length of remission with continuous treatment (no SCT)?
How long have you or were you in remission with continuous treatment without transplant of any kind?
Re: Length of remission with continuous treatment (no SCT)?
Check out this poll:
"Weekly Poll - 1st Remission Without Transplant" (started Feb 5, 2014)
Unfortunately, I don't find this hugely helpful, since you don't know anything about the stage and characteristics of the disease of the people in the poll. Like, were the people who never had a relapse mostly Stage I with low-risk characteristics? And what about ages? There's a big difference between someone who is 50 and someone who is 70.
At an upcoming appointment, I'm hoping to hear the answer that maybe I could skip the transplant for awhile, or permanently. But somehow I don't think that's what I'll hear.
Does being in Stage II make a difference?
RT
"Weekly Poll - 1st Remission Without Transplant" (started Feb 5, 2014)
Unfortunately, I don't find this hugely helpful, since you don't know anything about the stage and characteristics of the disease of the people in the poll. Like, were the people who never had a relapse mostly Stage I with low-risk characteristics? And what about ages? There's a big difference between someone who is 50 and someone who is 70.
At an upcoming appointment, I'm hoping to hear the answer that maybe I could skip the transplant for awhile, or permanently. But somehow I don't think that's what I'll hear.
Does being in Stage II make a difference?
RT
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RadiantTiger - Name: Radiant Tiger
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my deceased uncle
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Length of remission with continuous treatment (no SCT)?
I started treatment before any bone / organ involvement. It will be 2 years this coming June that I'll be in complete, and then stringent, complete response. No transplant.
I think the key, in my case at least, was starting before the myeloma had a chance to attack my body.
I think the key, in my case at least, was starting before the myeloma had a chance to attack my body.
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Stan W. - Name: Stan
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: SMM-April 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Length of remission with continuous treatment (no SCT)?
This falls in the for-what-it-is-worth category. The problem with multiple myeloma is that it is so heterogeneous that generalizations are not useful.
I was diagnosed as Stage II, IgG kappa light chain multiple myeloma in February 2009. I did not get an ASCT. Was put on VRD [Velcade, Revlimid, dexamethasone] and Aredia. My original protocol was Velcade infusion once a week along with 40 mg of dex. I was on Revlimid at 10 mg, on 21 days, off 7, and got monthly infusions of Aredia.
I reached a CR about 6 month into treatment. I have been in continuous treatment, but at much reduced levels. Currently, I receive Velcade by injection once every 2 weeks along with 8 mg of dex. Aredia infusions are now once every 3 months. I no longer take Revlimid as it was stopped in the summer of 2012 when I started developing infections and contracted meningitis. I now get IVIG infusions once a month but am hoping to discontinue those. I have been infection free for over 2 years.
My multiple myeloma was light chain as I did not have a measurable M spike. My multiple myeloma is tracked primarily through the serum free light chain assay. My tests continue to be very good – in the normal range – but in the last 6 months I have developed a measurable M spike. It is low at 0.3 g/dL (3 g/L). So I am still in a remissive state, but not free of multiple myeloma. It has been a little over 6 years.
Ron
I was diagnosed as Stage II, IgG kappa light chain multiple myeloma in February 2009. I did not get an ASCT. Was put on VRD [Velcade, Revlimid, dexamethasone] and Aredia. My original protocol was Velcade infusion once a week along with 40 mg of dex. I was on Revlimid at 10 mg, on 21 days, off 7, and got monthly infusions of Aredia.
I reached a CR about 6 month into treatment. I have been in continuous treatment, but at much reduced levels. Currently, I receive Velcade by injection once every 2 weeks along with 8 mg of dex. Aredia infusions are now once every 3 months. I no longer take Revlimid as it was stopped in the summer of 2012 when I started developing infections and contracted meningitis. I now get IVIG infusions once a month but am hoping to discontinue those. I have been infection free for over 2 years.
My multiple myeloma was light chain as I did not have a measurable M spike. My multiple myeloma is tracked primarily through the serum free light chain assay. My tests continue to be very good – in the normal range – but in the last 6 months I have developed a measurable M spike. It is low at 0.3 g/dL (3 g/L). So I am still in a remissive state, but not free of multiple myeloma. It has been a little over 6 years.
Ron
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
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