[shebert]

Husband just diagnosed after months of severe back pain

by shebert on Wed Jun 06, 2018 10:06 am

Hi all,

My 55 year old husband was just diagnosed June 5, 2018, with plasma cell myeloma. After a few months of severe back ache that presented itself similar to kidney stones (which he has had in the past), MRI of thoracic and lumbar revealed tumor at T10-T11. Within a week, he was in surgery for resection and insertion of two rods to help support that region. Results were revealed yesterday at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. He is lambda positive, IgG of 3776, M-Spike 2.1. Kappa-lambda ratio appears fine. Bone marrow results are plasma cell positive. We are awaiting FISH results. He is now three weeks post-op and feeling much better. Actually returned to work for a few hours today.

Ten rounds of radiation to the spine should begin in the next two weeks. At present induction treatment protocol will be Revlimid, Velcade (subcutaneous), and dexamethasone.

PET scan scheduled next week.

We live in the moment and are ready to begin this journey. Thank you for the opportunity to be a member of this community and the resources to continue to gain knowledge.

[Ron Harvot]

Re: Husband just diagnosed after months of severe back pain

by Ron Harvot on Wed Jun 27, 2018 11:47 pm

The Moffitt Cancer Center has many myeloma specialists, so your husband is in good hands.

The induction therapy that he is receiving, VRD, is a very common protocol for newly diagnosed patients in the United States and has yielded excellent results. The combination of radiation and induction treatment will be draining physically. It may take a few rounds before he feels the full impact. I would expect that you will see an improvement in his M-spike and shrinking of the tumors with this combined protocol. Keep us informed of his progress.

[lrankin]

Re: Husband just diagnosed after months of severe back pain

by lrankin on Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:12 pm

I'm sorry you are on this forum but glad you found it; it is invaluable. Your story is oh so familiar. My husband was diagnosed at 47, had 2 compression fractures we don't know about until it was too late for kyphoplasty. The first year was the hardest - shock and fear, deciding treatment (to pursue a stem cell transplant or not), not knowing what the "new normal" will be. He did Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone (RVD) and responded well. We did choose to do the stem cell transplant on an outpatient basis at Moffitt, and were very pleased with our experience.

We are now 3 years down the road and we are back to "normal". My husband can't golf but other than that things are fairly "normal". I hold my breath every 3 months when we review blood work as I know relapse is inevitable.

[shebert]

Re: Husband just diagnosed after months of severe back pain

by shebert on Mon Jul 09, 2018 3:14 pm

Thank you for sharing your experiences. It means a great deal. My husband finishes radiation Friday, has a week off, then begins Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone (RVD). He was doing quite well post op, then had a setback of a compression fracture. This slight fracture is in T10, where they attached the screws and rods after tumor removal (this was chosen as the bone between T10 and T11 was much involved by the tumor). Despite being in quite a bit of discomfort still, he remains positive and is ready to move forward. We're grateful his work isn't of a physical nature and he has all the flexibility he needs to work from home. Will keep posting along the way. Be well everyone and thank you again.