Thanks for your comment, Hinterstrasse. I said the same thing – what are the odds? Maybe time for both of us to buy a Powerball lottery ticket??
Our experiences are eerily similar. I was also diagnosed with stage 3A hormone receptor positive breast cancer in early March 2014 and also underwent surgery, chemo, and radiation. Although not a pleasant experience, I didn't find the breast cancer chemo too bad (except for the dastardly "Red Devil"), and was able to exercise throughout all of my treatments.
The drug protocol I'm now on in preparation for my ASCT is CyBorD, and it isn't too bad, but I've only been able to exercise a very little these past few months because of the surgery to my femur, and I think that is making the myeloma chemo experience harder for me than it would be otherwise. I also have a fractured rib which is being treated with pamidronate (Aredia).
I sincerely hope you don't have myeloma but, if you do, I hope that it is smoldering ... and that it smolders forever. But, please, have your doctors monitor you closely as you don't want to get to the point where you are fracturing bones.
Wishing you all the best,
Karen
Forums
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KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Multiple myeloma as secondary cancer after breast cancer
Hi Karen! Thanks for your quick response and good wishes. Like you, I'm ER+ and didn't find the chemo to be too terrible (although not a party by any means). I've also been exercising throughout treatment as much as possible. You wouldn't happen to have the BRCA1 mutation as well? Then we'd be twins.
The best of luck to you too! It's comforting to know that I'm not alone.
The best of luck to you too! It's comforting to know that I'm not alone.
Re: Multiple myeloma as secondary cancer after breast cancer
Hi Hinterstrasse,
Nope, I tested negative for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. We're sisters; not twins.
Karen
Nope, I tested negative for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. We're sisters; not twins.
Karen
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KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Multiple myeloma as secondary cancer after breast cancer
KarenD,
Thank you for posting this question. I have asked the same question to my doctor as I had breast cancer in 2007. I had a lot of chemo and radiation. At the time, my doctor told me, "Give me a year, and I will give you your life," which was good for 9 years!
I always worried about the breast cancer never thought I would get another type of cancer. I handled chemo well the first time. Not sure I want to go through it again.
Debi
Thank you for posting this question. I have asked the same question to my doctor as I had breast cancer in 2007. I had a lot of chemo and radiation. At the time, my doctor told me, "Give me a year, and I will give you your life," which was good for 9 years!
I always worried about the breast cancer never thought I would get another type of cancer. I handled chemo well the first time. Not sure I want to go through it again.
Debi
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Debic - Name: Debi
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Multiple myeloma as secondary cancer after breast cancer
Note this comment from Dr. Berenson that I came across earlier when I was considering this question as it relates to myeloma and the risk for my family members who have suffered from other cancers:
"Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in the blood, is a complex disease of the bone marrow. Multiple myeloma and bone cancer are two of the fastest growing diseases in the world. Over a million patients are currently afflicted with these debilitating and painful cancers. And because breast, prostate and lung cancers often metastasize to the bone, the number of myeloma and bone cancer patients is expected to rise."
This is hardly a scientifically backed comment, but interesting nonetheless.
"Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in the blood, is a complex disease of the bone marrow. Multiple myeloma and bone cancer are two of the fastest growing diseases in the world. Over a million patients are currently afflicted with these debilitating and painful cancers. And because breast, prostate and lung cancers often metastasize to the bone, the number of myeloma and bone cancer patients is expected to rise."
This is hardly a scientifically backed comment, but interesting nonetheless.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Multiple myeloma as secondary cancer after breast cancer
Hi Multibilly,
Thank you for your comment and Dr. Berenson’s quote – which I, admittedly, find confusing / troubling.
Does Dr. Berenson believe that breast cancer can morph into an unrelated cancer - multiple myeloma or bone cancer - when it exhibits in the bone?
There is a history of breast cancer in my family, but I had come to the conclusion, perhaps erroneously, that my multiple myeloma (no family history) had been smoldering for many years, and that my treatments for breast cancer had so decimated my immune system that it gave the myeloma a chance to gain real traction and finally exhibit as full blown myeloma.
My case seemed to be an anomaly at my cancer center as they could recall only one other case of a woman successfully battling breast cancer and then getting multiple myeloma, and that is perhaps why it took so long to diagnose my case properly.
Thank you for your comment and Dr. Berenson’s quote – which I, admittedly, find confusing / troubling.
Does Dr. Berenson believe that breast cancer can morph into an unrelated cancer - multiple myeloma or bone cancer - when it exhibits in the bone?
There is a history of breast cancer in my family, but I had come to the conclusion, perhaps erroneously, that my multiple myeloma (no family history) had been smoldering for many years, and that my treatments for breast cancer had so decimated my immune system that it gave the myeloma a chance to gain real traction and finally exhibit as full blown myeloma.
My case seemed to be an anomaly at my cancer center as they could recall only one other case of a woman successfully battling breast cancer and then getting multiple myeloma, and that is perhaps why it took so long to diagnose my case properly.
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KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Multiple myeloma as secondary cancer after breast cancer
Hi Karena,
Re: "Does Dr. Berenson believe that breast cancer can morph into an unrelated cancer - multiple myeloma or bone cancer - when it exhibits in the bone?"
That's essentially what I read into the above statement that I posted, but I don't want to comment on his behalf. I've also never had a conversation with him on this topic.
I'm also hard pressed to find any scientific references that specifically link myeloma and breast cancer (although there is indeed a lot of literature that says it is not uncommon for breast cancer to metastasize into one's bones and that the bone environment provides a quite fertile ground for metastatic cancer to grow).
Re: "Does Dr. Berenson believe that breast cancer can morph into an unrelated cancer - multiple myeloma or bone cancer - when it exhibits in the bone?"
That's essentially what I read into the above statement that I posted, but I don't want to comment on his behalf. I've also never had a conversation with him on this topic.
I'm also hard pressed to find any scientific references that specifically link myeloma and breast cancer (although there is indeed a lot of literature that says it is not uncommon for breast cancer to metastasize into one's bones and that the bone environment provides a quite fertile ground for metastatic cancer to grow).
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Multiple myeloma as secondary cancer after breast cancer
I have the opposite experience. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2012. I had a stem cell transplant on December 13, 2013. I was in remission and taking Revlimid as maintenance. I had a routine mammogram, and they found a lump. I had a needle biopsy, and it was cancer. I had a lumpectomy, and it was found in one lymph node. I am in the process of being set up for chemo and radiation.
I had to stop the Revlimid right in the middle of a cycle. I am so upset having to put a port back in because I had a terrible time having the other removed. I am worried about the multiple myeloma becoming active again. I hate the bone marrow biopsies. I hate that everyone says "Oh, it could be worse." It doesn't help when you are the one going through treatment. I have to stay strong for my sons because we lost my parents right after I finished treatment and they are afraid of losing me. I am very depressed. (Sorry I am ranting)
I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience? Does anyone know how long it may take for the multiple myeloma to come back because I stopped the Revlimid?
I had to stop the Revlimid right in the middle of a cycle. I am so upset having to put a port back in because I had a terrible time having the other removed. I am worried about the multiple myeloma becoming active again. I hate the bone marrow biopsies. I hate that everyone says "Oh, it could be worse." It doesn't help when you are the one going through treatment. I have to stay strong for my sons because we lost my parents right after I finished treatment and they are afraid of losing me. I am very depressed. (Sorry I am ranting)
I am wondering if anyone else has had this experience? Does anyone know how long it may take for the multiple myeloma to come back because I stopped the Revlimid?
Re: Multiple myeloma as secondary cancer after breast cancer
You may also want to read through this thread:
"BRCA2 Gene Link to Multiple Myeloma" (started Jan 5, 2013)
"BRCA2 Gene Link to Multiple Myeloma" (started Jan 5, 2013)
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Multiple myeloma as secondary cancer after breast cancer
Hi Sue,
I am so sorry to hear that you too have been hit with the double whammy of myeloma and breast cancer. It took me approximately 16 weeks to get through my chemo regimen for breast cancer (ER/PR positive, HER2 negative) and 4 weeks for the radiation. So 20 weeks in total. How long will your breast cancer chemo/radiation regimen take? Hopefully, you won’t have to stop your Revlimid maintenance for too long, but it is doubtful that anyone can provide you with an answer as to how soon myeloma returns after cessation of Revlimid maintenance in any individual case.
It’s a very tough hand you’ve been dealt, but in your shoes, I would focus on keeping positive and on keeping my immune system as strong as possible throughout the treatments with a healthy diet, lots of water, moderate exercise (if possible), lots of rest, and whatever stress relieving techniques you find helpful.
Wishing you all the best as you undergo this unwanted side trip on your myeloma journey.
Stay strong,
Karen
I am so sorry to hear that you too have been hit with the double whammy of myeloma and breast cancer. It took me approximately 16 weeks to get through my chemo regimen for breast cancer (ER/PR positive, HER2 negative) and 4 weeks for the radiation. So 20 weeks in total. How long will your breast cancer chemo/radiation regimen take? Hopefully, you won’t have to stop your Revlimid maintenance for too long, but it is doubtful that anyone can provide you with an answer as to how soon myeloma returns after cessation of Revlimid maintenance in any individual case.
It’s a very tough hand you’ve been dealt, but in your shoes, I would focus on keeping positive and on keeping my immune system as strong as possible throughout the treatments with a healthy diet, lots of water, moderate exercise (if possible), lots of rest, and whatever stress relieving techniques you find helpful.
Wishing you all the best as you undergo this unwanted side trip on your myeloma journey.
Stay strong,
Karen
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KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
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