I have a new diagnosis of multiple myeloma. I have just finished my first chemo treatment of VRD (Velcade, Revlimid, dexamethasone) with Zometa. I reacted badly to the chemo and am considering getting a second opinion at either the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale or The Univeristy of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock.
I am wondering if anyone would recommend one of these centers, or another treatment center for someone with many complications.
I would like to go to a center that treats a LARGE number of patients with multiple complications.
Thanks in advance for your help.
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Re: Myeloma treatment center recommendations?
Both Mayo and UAMS see lots and lots of myeloma patients, so there's no question you'll be in the hands of specialists with deep experience. The two centers, however, have rather different philosophies when it comes to the treatment of myeloma.
UAMS usually recommends very intensive, multidrug regimens as initial therapy, followed by single or double stem cell transplantation, followed by comparatively intensive maintenance therapy. And when I say "multidrug", I mean VRD plus other stuff, including one or two older chemotherapy agents. UAMS calls its preferred treatment regimen "Total Therapy".
Mayo, on the other hand, would probably recommend either continuing your current regimen, or perhaps switching to Velcade, Cytoxan, and dex. They also would probably push you less hard to have a stem cell transplant after initial therapy than UAMS would, although it will depend a bit on the doctor you get at Mayo.
The guidelines that most Mayo docs follow when treating myeloma are available online here:
http://msmart.org/newly%20diagnosed%20myeloma.pdf
I don't think there is any harm in getting a second opinion from either Mayo or UAMS. Also, if you're currently being seen by a general hematologist-oncologist, it would be advisable anyway to see a physician who really specializes in myeloma, and you'll find many of those at either UAMS or Mayo (and many other places).
If you haven't seen it already, there is a list of myeloma treatment centers here at this site,
https://myelomabeacon.org/resources/treatment-centers/
UAMS usually recommends very intensive, multidrug regimens as initial therapy, followed by single or double stem cell transplantation, followed by comparatively intensive maintenance therapy. And when I say "multidrug", I mean VRD plus other stuff, including one or two older chemotherapy agents. UAMS calls its preferred treatment regimen "Total Therapy".
Mayo, on the other hand, would probably recommend either continuing your current regimen, or perhaps switching to Velcade, Cytoxan, and dex. They also would probably push you less hard to have a stem cell transplant after initial therapy than UAMS would, although it will depend a bit on the doctor you get at Mayo.
The guidelines that most Mayo docs follow when treating myeloma are available online here:
http://msmart.org/newly%20diagnosed%20myeloma.pdf
I don't think there is any harm in getting a second opinion from either Mayo or UAMS. Also, if you're currently being seen by a general hematologist-oncologist, it would be advisable anyway to see a physician who really specializes in myeloma, and you'll find many of those at either UAMS or Mayo (and many other places).
If you haven't seen it already, there is a list of myeloma treatment centers here at this site,
https://myelomabeacon.org/resources/treatment-centers/
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