Hi
my mother is suffering from multiple myeloma for past 1 year. She went for the initial theraphy for past 6 months. She had excellant response to initial theraphy.Her bone marrow biopsy showed negative for cancer cells and her M-protein count is zero. she is recommended for Stem cell transplant(bone marrow transplant) which is best treatment available now.BMT doesnt cure the disease,but helps long time survival. but just before a day for transplant, its very unfortunate that doctors found she doesnt have enough stem cells to collect and retransplant.. Doctors told us that she cannot go for bone marrow transplant now and also in future.. Doctors also checked whether another chemo can be given to improve her count and redo the BMT.. but doctors board rejected the option because she has heart attack 11 yrs back(but at present her heart is in good condition, so only we proceeded the BMT)She have to go again by conventional treatment.. As per studies conventional treatment is not enough for more years to survivive. we are upset and depressed. But doctors say current novel drugs can help her? Is this situation alarming???
Vijayabharathi
Chennai,India
Forums
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: Not able to do HSCT, Is novel drugs treatment worth more
Hello Vijayabharathi,
I'm sorry to hear that your mother has myeloma. However, its great she has responded well to initial therapy.
Some of the others here in the forum may have suggestions for ways to improve your mother's chances of collecting more stem cells so that she will be able to do a stem cell transplant after all. I am not familiar with all the options.
I do remember, however, that one person contributed an article here at the beacon about a treatment that can be used to increase stem cell counts. here is the article:
https://myelomabeacon.org/opinion/2011/01/11/stem-cell-collection-and-hyperbaric-oxygen-treatment/
Maybe it will help.
Can you give us any more information on exactly how many stem cells the doctors were able to collect when they tried to collect stem cells from your mother? That might help in determining if there really is a possibility of collecting enough stem cells from her.
Also, how old is your mother?
Good luck,
Ricardo
I'm sorry to hear that your mother has myeloma. However, its great she has responded well to initial therapy.
Some of the others here in the forum may have suggestions for ways to improve your mother's chances of collecting more stem cells so that she will be able to do a stem cell transplant after all. I am not familiar with all the options.
I do remember, however, that one person contributed an article here at the beacon about a treatment that can be used to increase stem cell counts. here is the article:
https://myelomabeacon.org/opinion/2011/01/11/stem-cell-collection-and-hyperbaric-oxygen-treatment/
Maybe it will help.
Can you give us any more information on exactly how many stem cells the doctors were able to collect when they tried to collect stem cells from your mother? That might help in determining if there really is a possibility of collecting enough stem cells from her.
Also, how old is your mother?
Good luck,
Ricardo
Re: Not able to do HSCT, Is novel drugs treatment worth more
Hi Richardo..
Thank u so much for reply.. Doctors told us she is lacking CD34 which is 0.12% which should be more than 0.5% for BMT.. i dont what is this factor.. my mother is 56 years old..
Is this current failure of stem cell mobilisation is final? Doctors told us because of her heart condition(nearly 11 yrs back she got MI) they ruled the chemo drugs for stem cell improvement..
Regards
VB
Thank u so much for reply.. Doctors told us she is lacking CD34 which is 0.12% which should be more than 0.5% for BMT.. i dont what is this factor.. my mother is 56 years old..
Is this current failure of stem cell mobilisation is final? Doctors told us because of her heart condition(nearly 11 yrs back she got MI) they ruled the chemo drugs for stem cell improvement..
Regards
VB
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Vijayabharathi C
Re: Not able to do HSCT, Is novel drugs treatment worth more
Hi Vijay,
I am not eligible for BSCT either and am researching this option as well.
What you want is someone willing to do BSCT without using aklylator agents as they result in significantly shorter survival when using hi-dose chemo for the subset of multiple myeloma patients your mom & I are in for different reasons.
I do not have an answer, however, at this time we certainly know that keeping the disease at bay with the newer proteasome inhibitors is a better option than the BSTM in terms of PFS, if it involves the hi-dose chemo with alkylators. Those aklylators also have life-time limited dosing particularly when there are cardiac issues which is why even though it was decades ago, your mom would not be a good candidate using those drugs still, her heart can't take the toxicity.
My decision thus far is to stay on the 3 drug regimen of a protesome inhibitor along with IMid's and a steroid. While looking to find a researcher who is ready to establish a new clinical horizon without hi-dose chemo that includes alkylators. He/she is out there, and brilliant. Let's pray for them to recognize their talents.!
As far as the stem cells go, I do not know how they determine whether your mom can produce enough, unless she had far 2 many cycles of chemo prior to the decision to harvest her cells. The hyperbaric chamber option that Ricardo linked to could resolve that and may be worth a try.
Last, but no less heartfelt, I am, sorry to hear about your mom. My heart goes out to you as you work to elucidate the best outcomes..stay prayerful and keep your spirits up. Joy is your strength when we are challenged.
We do far more and have greater productivity when we do not get dismayed and barrel ahead joyously, to victory.
I am not eligible for BSCT either and am researching this option as well.
What you want is someone willing to do BSCT without using aklylator agents as they result in significantly shorter survival when using hi-dose chemo for the subset of multiple myeloma patients your mom & I are in for different reasons.
I do not have an answer, however, at this time we certainly know that keeping the disease at bay with the newer proteasome inhibitors is a better option than the BSTM in terms of PFS, if it involves the hi-dose chemo with alkylators. Those aklylators also have life-time limited dosing particularly when there are cardiac issues which is why even though it was decades ago, your mom would not be a good candidate using those drugs still, her heart can't take the toxicity.
My decision thus far is to stay on the 3 drug regimen of a protesome inhibitor along with IMid's and a steroid. While looking to find a researcher who is ready to establish a new clinical horizon without hi-dose chemo that includes alkylators. He/she is out there, and brilliant. Let's pray for them to recognize their talents.!
As far as the stem cells go, I do not know how they determine whether your mom can produce enough, unless she had far 2 many cycles of chemo prior to the decision to harvest her cells. The hyperbaric chamber option that Ricardo linked to could resolve that and may be worth a try.
Last, but no less heartfelt, I am, sorry to hear about your mom. My heart goes out to you as you work to elucidate the best outcomes..stay prayerful and keep your spirits up. Joy is your strength when we are challenged.
We do far more and have greater productivity when we do not get dismayed and barrel ahead joyously, to victory.
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suzierose - Name: suzierose
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2 sept 2011
Re: Not able to do HSCT, Is novel drugs treatment worth more
Dear Vijayabharathi,
I am so sorry to hear that your Mother has to deal with myeloma, but I am delighted to hear that she has had such a terrific response to therapy!
I am not familiar with the health care system in India, but a heart attack 11 years ago should not impact the safety of different approaches to stem cell collection or her candidacy for transplant, provided her heart is working well now.
Chemotherapy followed by G-CSF or G-CSF in combination with plerixafor are both effective ways of collecting more stem cells for transplant, and have allowed patients to undergo transplant when stem cell mobilization with G-CSF alone has failed to produce adequate results.
Treatment for myeloma has improved dramatically. With the availibility of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and bortezomib (Velcade), patients with myeloma are living longer than ever before. The fact that your Mother is in a complete remission is a great start! So, even if transplant is off the table for your Mom, she should derive considerable benefit from the newer therapies.
The role of transplant in the modern era of myeloma therapy needs to be clarified and an on-going international study is getting at that issue. However, most myeloma physicians feel that transplant remains an important option for treatment. As such, if she is a good candidate and enough stem cells can be collected, it is highly worthy of consideration.
Best of luck!
Pete V.
I am so sorry to hear that your Mother has to deal with myeloma, but I am delighted to hear that she has had such a terrific response to therapy!
I am not familiar with the health care system in India, but a heart attack 11 years ago should not impact the safety of different approaches to stem cell collection or her candidacy for transplant, provided her heart is working well now.
Chemotherapy followed by G-CSF or G-CSF in combination with plerixafor are both effective ways of collecting more stem cells for transplant, and have allowed patients to undergo transplant when stem cell mobilization with G-CSF alone has failed to produce adequate results.
Treatment for myeloma has improved dramatically. With the availibility of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and bortezomib (Velcade), patients with myeloma are living longer than ever before. The fact that your Mother is in a complete remission is a great start! So, even if transplant is off the table for your Mom, she should derive considerable benefit from the newer therapies.
The role of transplant in the modern era of myeloma therapy needs to be clarified and an on-going international study is getting at that issue. However, most myeloma physicians feel that transplant remains an important option for treatment. As such, if she is a good candidate and enough stem cells can be collected, it is highly worthy of consideration.
Best of luck!
Pete V.
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Dr. Peter Voorhees - Name: Peter Voorhees, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Not able to do HSCT, Is novel drugs treatment worth more
Dear Dr.Pete,
Thank you so much for providing such a great consolation words.. I feel little relaxed after some of your words..
We are undergoing treatment in Adayar cancer institute, one of the most famous,premier cancer hospital in india..
Doctors here are good in diagnosing preciously about the problems.. Doctor who treated my mother wanted to try for that chemo.. but combined doctors board rejected the option opting to avoid the risk.
My question is whether we can try the BMT in future if needed?
My doctor too repeated same words like your last 4 lines to us. My mother is unfortunate that she not able to get the best treatment for myeloma.
Once again thanks for the great words.. Doctor profession is one of the finest social service profession in the world i believe!!
Thank you so much for providing such a great consolation words.. I feel little relaxed after some of your words..
We are undergoing treatment in Adayar cancer institute, one of the most famous,premier cancer hospital in india..
Doctors here are good in diagnosing preciously about the problems.. Doctor who treated my mother wanted to try for that chemo.. but combined doctors board rejected the option opting to avoid the risk.
My question is whether we can try the BMT in future if needed?
My doctor too repeated same words like your last 4 lines to us. My mother is unfortunate that she not able to get the best treatment for myeloma.
Once again thanks for the great words.. Doctor profession is one of the finest social service profession in the world i believe!!
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Vijayabharathi
Re: Not able to do HSCT, Is novel drugs treatment worth more
Dear Susierose
Thanks for the words... In this world, when we come to these kind of difficult situations, only god is supreme personality to trust.. Lets build confidence with him.. I pray for your good health too
Vijayabharathi C
Thanks for the words... In this world, when we come to these kind of difficult situations, only god is supreme personality to trust.. Lets build confidence with him.. I pray for your good health too
Vijayabharathi C
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Vijayabharathi
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1