I have just had an auto transplant 30 days ago, and am doing very well. My question is about maintenance treatment.
I know just a few years ago, people went without maintenance chemo and many went years without any problems. I would like to do this, but my oncologist is suggesting chemo 100 days from transplant.
Does maintenance chemo prolong life or just extend the period of time before relapse?
Thoughts and study information would be appreciated.
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Re: Maintenance therapy after stem cell transplant
My multiple myeloma specialist put me on low dose Revlimid after my SCT's. I had to lower my dose after a few months due to low WBC counts. After 2 years he took me off of it.
He thought there were benefits to being on it for 2 years, but the risks of staying on it after 2 years probably outweighed the benefits.
He also said, if I had any side effects from it that could not be controlled with lowering the dose, he would have taken me off earlier.
That's just my experience. And it's been a good experience!
He thought there were benefits to being on it for 2 years, but the risks of staying on it after 2 years probably outweighed the benefits.
He also said, if I had any side effects from it that could not be controlled with lowering the dose, he would have taken me off earlier.
That's just my experience. And it's been a good experience!
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stann
Re: Maintenance therapy after stem cell transplant
If you do a search on this site of "maintenance therapy" you will find quite a few discussions on the topic with links to studies.
Many doctors recommend two years of Revlimid, others are now advocating a full VRD regime.
I have personally chosen 10 mg. of Revlimid for quality of life reasons and because some studies show a PFS and OS advantage over no maintenance.
Many doctors recommend two years of Revlimid, others are now advocating a full VRD regime.
I have personally chosen 10 mg. of Revlimid for quality of life reasons and because some studies show a PFS and OS advantage over no maintenance.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Maintenance therapy after stem cell transplant
Just to add a bit to what Andrew wrote, maintenance therapy is a regular topic here in the forum and a subject of a number of Beacon news articles over the past year or two.
This link will take you to a list of all forum discussions that deal with maintenance therapy. As you'll see, there are quite a number of recent discussions, many of which had quite a number of postings.
There is also some information in this thread,
"Continuous therapy in newly diagnosed patients?"
that you may find helpful.
Finally, this topic (tag) page will take you to a list of all Beacon news and opinion articles with information related to maintenance therapy.
https://myelomabeacon.org/tag/maintenance-therapy/
Some of the articles are focused specifically on maintenance therapy, while others cover the topic as well as several other topics.
Good luck!
This link will take you to a list of all forum discussions that deal with maintenance therapy. As you'll see, there are quite a number of recent discussions, many of which had quite a number of postings.
There is also some information in this thread,
"Continuous therapy in newly diagnosed patients?"
that you may find helpful.
Finally, this topic (tag) page will take you to a list of all Beacon news and opinion articles with information related to maintenance therapy.
https://myelomabeacon.org/tag/maintenance-therapy/
Some of the articles are focused specifically on maintenance therapy, while others cover the topic as well as several other topics.
Good luck!
Re: Maintenance therapy after stem cell transplant
I went 3 1/2 years without any maintenance following my SCT. My M-spike started rising last fall and I'm now on Revlimid.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Maintenance therapy after stem cell transplant
Hi,
Around 90 days after my SCT, we started consolidation therapy (2 cycles of RVD). Immediately after that, at the end of September 2013, we went into Revlimid maintenance (starting at 10 mg daily and then after a few months going up to 15 mg daily). It has worked out to be more than just "maintenance" for me, in the sense that my myeloma-related numbers have been slowly improving through the treatment. Yay!
My ANC, platelets, and HGB are all lower than normal, but not terrible. I've had some problems with fatigue, but mainly just being extra worn out in the evenings some days. And some problems with muscle cramps. But all in all, not too bad. I'll take the trade off, given my improving myeloma numbers.
The plan is for 2 years of Revlimid maintenance if all continues to go well.
Around 90 days after my SCT, we started consolidation therapy (2 cycles of RVD). Immediately after that, at the end of September 2013, we went into Revlimid maintenance (starting at 10 mg daily and then after a few months going up to 15 mg daily). It has worked out to be more than just "maintenance" for me, in the sense that my myeloma-related numbers have been slowly improving through the treatment. Yay!
My ANC, platelets, and HGB are all lower than normal, but not terrible. I've had some problems with fatigue, but mainly just being extra worn out in the evenings some days. And some problems with muscle cramps. But all in all, not too bad. I'll take the trade off, given my improving myeloma numbers.
The plan is for 2 years of Revlimid maintenance if all continues to go well.
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
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