[FreddieNOC]

Had 55 years of good health ... until now

by FreddieNOC on Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:12 pm

My name is Freddie, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in July of 2013. I had a mass growing on my pelvis which almost cracked it in half. I had surgery, and a pin was placed in my pelvis in order to keep it together.The day after my surgery I began chemotherapy. My cancer at that time had already taken over 90% of my bones.Today my cancer is at 40 %.

I was being treated with Velcade in hopes of having a bone marrow transplant in Dec. Almost at the end of my 6th cycle of chemo I developed neuropathy in both of my feet. My doctor didn't want to continue chemo and make the neuropathy worse. So now I am gonna begin with treatments of Revlimid for a few months in order to bring the 40% down even lower, before I can get the transplant.

[dnalex]

Re: Had 55 years of good health ... until now

by dnalex on Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:09 am

Best wishes to you, and to your family, and I hope for news of fantastic results soon!

[Multibilly]

Re: Had 55 years of good health ... until now

by Multibilly on Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:38 am

Hi Freddie,

I was curious if you were taking subcutaneous Velcade or the regular IV form?

[Ron Harvot]

Re: Had 55 years of good health ... until now

by Ron Harvot on Sat Jan 04, 2014 3:11 pm

Usually induction therapy is a combination treatment. For example Velcade plus Revlimid plus dexamethasone Typically the Velcade is given with a simple shot in the belly once a week or some other stepped protocol . Revlimid normally is started at 10 or 25 mg on 21 days off 7.and the Dex is normally taken orrally on the same cycle as the Velcade.

Velcade is in a class of drugs known as proteasome inhibitors. Revlimid is an immunomodulatory agent. and Dex is a corticosteroid. Research has found that when used in combination the drugs compliment and enhance the anti myeloma effects of each other. Also when used together the disease has a much harder time building up a resistance to the treatment.


Further due to bone issues usually a bisphosphonate such as Zometa or Aridea is prescribed. Those agents act to harden the bone and prevent new lesions and in some cases heal the existing lesions.

You may want to discuss this with your oncologist.

Ron .