Hi Victor,
I'm sorry to hear about the possible tumor on your kidney. I certainly hope that it turns out to be benign, whatever it is. Will they do a biopsy of the kidney to determine what the mass is?
I really don't want to speculate on the cause of any secondary cancer until we know for sure what it is that is on your kidney.
Good luck!
Forums
Re: Pomalyst, cyclophosphamide & dexamethasone treatment
Hi Cheryl G,
Thank you for your comments and kind words. Three days ago I had the pleasure of meeting the urologist who will be looking after my kidney treatment. He has proposed a needle biopsy of the tumor during April and he hopes that it will be found to be benign, in which case it would not be necessary to remove the kidney, simply to keep a regular check on it, perhaps by ultrasound examination.
This week I have also received the reassuring news that my monthly electrophoresis test has shown a near 30% fall in the monoclonal peak since February. It now stands at 3.1 g/L (0.31 g/dL), the lowest it has been since the relapse occurred in 2015. The albumin level is slightly below the lower limit at 38.2 g/L, the ideal would be between 40.2 and 47.6 g/L.
Best Wishes to you all,
Victor L.
Thank you for your comments and kind words. Three days ago I had the pleasure of meeting the urologist who will be looking after my kidney treatment. He has proposed a needle biopsy of the tumor during April and he hopes that it will be found to be benign, in which case it would not be necessary to remove the kidney, simply to keep a regular check on it, perhaps by ultrasound examination.
This week I have also received the reassuring news that my monthly electrophoresis test has shown a near 30% fall in the monoclonal peak since February. It now stands at 3.1 g/L (0.31 g/dL), the lowest it has been since the relapse occurred in 2015. The albumin level is slightly below the lower limit at 38.2 g/L, the ideal would be between 40.2 and 47.6 g/L.
Best Wishes to you all,
Victor L.
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Victor L - Name: Victor L
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Pomalyst, cyclophosphamide & dexamethasone treatment
Hi Victor,
It sounds like the urologist is at least a bit optimistic about what the growth on your kidney might be. I do hope it turns out to be benign, whatever it is.
Glad to hear that your M-spike is not just holding steady, but declining. That's great news!
It sounds like the urologist is at least a bit optimistic about what the growth on your kidney might be. I do hope it turns out to be benign, whatever it is.
Glad to hear that your M-spike is not just holding steady, but declining. That's great news!
Re: Pomalyst, cyclophosphamide & dexamethasone treatment
Hi Victor,
Just wanted to let you know that I've been thinking about your situation and hoping that all is going well. Good luck with all the biopsies, testing, and other procedures you're probably going through.
Just wanted to let you know that I've been thinking about your situation and hoping that all is going well. Good luck with all the biopsies, testing, and other procedures you're probably going through.
Re: Pomalyst, cyclophosphamide & dexamethasone treatment
Hi Cheryl G,
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. I am currently on a ten-day visit to the UK after which I will return to France to collect results from a number of tests which were carried out before I left, including further x-rays of the lower abdomen and hips where I have been experiencing some discomfort.
I have some concerns that various pains could even be side effects of the treatments themselves, for example, prolonged use of blood-thinning injections, such as Innohep (tinzaparin), can cause pain in the back and joints.
I am sure that the coming weeks will bring some answers, and I will pleased to share anything of interest.
Best Wishes to you Cheryl G and to all on The Myeloma Beacon,
Victor L.
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. I am currently on a ten-day visit to the UK after which I will return to France to collect results from a number of tests which were carried out before I left, including further x-rays of the lower abdomen and hips where I have been experiencing some discomfort.
I have some concerns that various pains could even be side effects of the treatments themselves, for example, prolonged use of blood-thinning injections, such as Innohep (tinzaparin), can cause pain in the back and joints.
I am sure that the coming weeks will bring some answers, and I will pleased to share anything of interest.
Best Wishes to you Cheryl G and to all on The Myeloma Beacon,
Victor L.
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Victor L - Name: Victor L
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Pomalyst, cyclophosphamide & dexamethasone treatment
It's good to hear from you, Victor. Thank you for the update. I hope all goes well with the test results you'll be getting back.
Re: Pomalyst, cyclophosphamide & dexamethasone treatment
For several weeks I have been experiencing a considerable degree of pain and discomfort in the area of the lower back and hips. Various tests and examinations led to the discovery of a cyst of 4 cm within the right kidney, which is now due for biopsy towards the end of May.
Last week I discussed the problem again with the family doctor and he suggested trying a six day course of a treatment called ketoprofen 100 mg, this being a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. I was very pleased that even within 24 hours of commencing the treatment I noticed a dramatic reduction in the pain level and now. As I near the end of the course, virtually all discomfort has gone and I am able to bend down again, get in and out of the car without difficulty, and walk around the town at a very impressive pace!
Sometimes the symptoms which may seem to suggest quite worrying causes can be very easily rectified. I now await the investigation into the kidney cyst.
Best Wishes from Victor L
Last week I discussed the problem again with the family doctor and he suggested trying a six day course of a treatment called ketoprofen 100 mg, this being a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. I was very pleased that even within 24 hours of commencing the treatment I noticed a dramatic reduction in the pain level and now. As I near the end of the course, virtually all discomfort has gone and I am able to bend down again, get in and out of the car without difficulty, and walk around the town at a very impressive pace!
Sometimes the symptoms which may seem to suggest quite worrying causes can be very easily rectified. I now await the investigation into the kidney cyst.
Best Wishes from Victor L
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Victor L - Name: Victor L
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Pomalyst, cyclophosphamide & dexamethasone treatment
Hello to you all.
I have had my consultation with the myeloma specialist this week and all seems to be going well as far as that is concerned and I will continue the Pomalyst treatment.
However, the kidney problem has now been confirmed to be a malignant tumor approximately 4 cm in size. I am now under the care of a urologist, and he has proposed surgery to remove the kidney, probably within the next three months. In his opinion, this is the best option. Despite this, I feel well, and there are few, if any, symptoms associated with this abnormal growth.
I will keep you informed of developments. Best Wishes to you all,
Victor L.
I have had my consultation with the myeloma specialist this week and all seems to be going well as far as that is concerned and I will continue the Pomalyst treatment.
However, the kidney problem has now been confirmed to be a malignant tumor approximately 4 cm in size. I am now under the care of a urologist, and he has proposed surgery to remove the kidney, probably within the next three months. In his opinion, this is the best option. Despite this, I feel well, and there are few, if any, symptoms associated with this abnormal growth.
I will keep you informed of developments. Best Wishes to you all,
Victor L.
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Victor L - Name: Victor L
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Pomalyst, cyclophosphamide & dexamethasone treatment
Thanks for the update Victor, but I am sorry to hear that the tumour on the kidney is malignant and that a urologist recommends taking out that kidney. From what I gather that is a standard of care for kidney cancer, but I don't know how that would be related to myeloma patients. Would you still be receiving treatment for your myeloma for the duration, and I wonder what the biopsy has shown in terms of what kind of cancer it is. Is it by definition kidney cancer since it is the kidney, or could it be myeloma cancer?
It's good of you to share, and hope you are doing well, despite everything.
It's good of you to share, and hope you are doing well, despite everything.
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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: Pomalyst, cyclophosphamide & dexamethasone treatment
Hello Nancy and thank you for your question.
It has been only a few days since I discussed this kidney problem with the urologist so I only have basic details. In my opinion there are perhaps three possibilities:
Of some comfort is the fact that the tumor has been found purely by accident and it could have remained undetected for many more months which would have reduced my chances of a successful outcome.
I will keep you all informed of developments.
Victor L
It has been only a few days since I discussed this kidney problem with the urologist so I only have basic details. In my opinion there are perhaps three possibilities:
- The tumor is a separate problem totally unconnected with the myeloma - probably unlikely, or
- It has been caused by, or is connected to the myeloma, or
- It has been caused by one or more of the various treatments I have received over the past seven years, some of which are quite toxic.
Of some comfort is the fact that the tumor has been found purely by accident and it could have remained undetected for many more months which would have reduced my chances of a successful outcome.
I will keep you all informed of developments.
Victor L
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Victor L - Name: Victor L
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
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