[GailT]

Anyone with multiple myeloma & secondary AML?

by GailT on Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:11 pm

My husband was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2003 (@ age 49). Surgery for plasmacytoma in spine, radiation, chemo and autologus SCT [stem cell transplant] that year (mephalan prior to SCT). No maintenance meds for 5 1/2 yrs. as the multiple myeloma was "undetectable."

In 2009 started Revlimid/Dex for almost 3 yrs. then Velcade for brief period.

In Jan .2013 taken off meds -- multiple myeloma in plateau phase (or so we thought).

In Dec. 2013 diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML was supressing growth of multiple myeloma. He is one of the unlucky ones who developed a secondary cancer from multiple myeloma treatment.

Is there anyone reading the posts who has same diagnosis?

For anyone undergoing similar treatment: pay attention to all counts and do not dismiss any symptoms. My husband developed severe anemia. His hematocrit was dropping but focus was always on protein count. He has lived with multiple myeloma for so long we put it on the "back burner" as he was living an active normal life.

We and his doctor dropped the ball in paying closer attention to all blood work results. My husband had gradually developing fatigue which he just did not place much emphasis on until it became a crisis situation.