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Re: Multiple myeloma, treatment, and fertility
Hi Allyssa, Please don't go away all upset. This is just a forum after all, where people have an opportunity to share news and views. Suzierose and I have been participating in it for a while now...I have been interested since last December, and I think that Suzierose earlier than that. I respect the fact that you have your own medical team and of course a forum is not meant to supersede that. We all have had to deal with the multiple myeloma, and the Beacon is a way to share too! I know that the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children is extremely well regarded here in our country and hope that you can work out your medical issues with your team. We are cautious because we ARE older, and are really only expressing ideas out of concern for you. Hope that helps (you too, Suzierose).
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Multiple myeloma, treatment, and fertility
HI Alyssa-
I highly recommend that you seek out a couple more doctors at other health systems for a second and perhaps a third opinion. While you are currently working with an excellent provider, there is nothing wrong with getting more opinions; the more information you have, the better equipped you are to make such an important decision.
We are regularly advised to seek out second and third opinions for our own health care and then make our decisions from there. Seeking out other opinions regarding a yet to be created unborn child certainly would be beneficial to your decision.
I highly recommend that you seek out a couple more doctors at other health systems for a second and perhaps a third opinion. While you are currently working with an excellent provider, there is nothing wrong with getting more opinions; the more information you have, the better equipped you are to make such an important decision.
We are regularly advised to seek out second and third opinions for our own health care and then make our decisions from there. Seeking out other opinions regarding a yet to be created unborn child certainly would be beneficial to your decision.
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Jenn - Name: Jenn
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: Multiple myeloma, treatment, and fertility
Alyssa, sorry to hear you developed ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome while undergoing IVF, but hopefully you harvested a bunch of healthy embryos. Best wishes going forward -- trying to successfully implant, getting through the pregnancy hopefully without needing chemo, and being a mom with myeloma. Although most of us didn't have to worry about those first two steps, there are quite a few moms and dads on this forum with young children, and it's not easy telling your children that mom's sick and mom has to go spend some time in the hospital.
Have your doctors discussed the timing of the implantation? I'm guessing you'd need to wait a certain amount of time after finishing chemo to let it clear out of your system before wanting to implant. But I would think it would be beneficial to implant soon after reaching a deep response, such as complete remission, rather than waiting a while, to make sure you're early in your remission and hopefully won't relapse until much after the baby is born.
Speaking of timing, if you would end up relapsing and requiring chemo near the end of your pregnancy, your doctor can help you weigh the odds of whether it's better to start chemo before the baby's born or to deliver a couple of weeks early.
I'm sure this isn't cheap, and carrying your own baby is certainly a fantastic bonding experience, but have you looked into a surrogate mother to carry your child (since as you said, unfortunately modern medicine doesn't yet let dad do the job)? It could still be your child biologically, since you've done IVF, but at least you wouldn't have to worry about chemo affecting the developing fetus.
Anyway, just a few thoughts to consider or discuss with your physicians. Like I said, best wishes!!!
Have your doctors discussed the timing of the implantation? I'm guessing you'd need to wait a certain amount of time after finishing chemo to let it clear out of your system before wanting to implant. But I would think it would be beneficial to implant soon after reaching a deep response, such as complete remission, rather than waiting a while, to make sure you're early in your remission and hopefully won't relapse until much after the baby is born.
Speaking of timing, if you would end up relapsing and requiring chemo near the end of your pregnancy, your doctor can help you weigh the odds of whether it's better to start chemo before the baby's born or to deliver a couple of weeks early.
I'm sure this isn't cheap, and carrying your own baby is certainly a fantastic bonding experience, but have you looked into a surrogate mother to carry your child (since as you said, unfortunately modern medicine doesn't yet let dad do the job)? It could still be your child biologically, since you've done IVF, but at least you wouldn't have to worry about chemo affecting the developing fetus.
Anyway, just a few thoughts to consider or discuss with your physicians. Like I said, best wishes!!!
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Shannon
13 posts
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