[Sharona]

11 days treatment then 14-16 days off - is this normal?

by Sharona on Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:19 am

I have been having a good read on here and have read many blogs and it seems that lots of you have treatment for 3 weeks or so and then have a week off, then back to treatment.

Well my Husband has treatment in hospital for 11 days and then got sent home for 14 days cycle 1 and then back for 11 days and has now been sent home for 16 days. During his time at home he doesn't take a single drug.

Does anyone else 's medical team take this approach or could it just be a Bulgarian way of doing things, or perhaps they are just giving him minimal treatment due to his age and the fact that he has heart failure. They are hoping to achieve partial remission with this approach and don't seem to expect good partial or full remission.

All his meds are given intravenously and he is on CyBorD (cyclophosphamide + Velcade + dexa­metha­sone). He is stage 3A and is intermediate to high risk.

I do worry that there isn't a lot they can do for him. Has anyone else achieved nothing better than partial remission and have lived like that for a good few years.

Thanks Sharon.

[Wayne K]

Re: 11 days treatment then 14-16 days off - is this normal?

by Wayne K on Sat Nov 09, 2013 5:42 pm

I don't remember my cycle exactly, but it was something like 20 days, then 10 days off, or?? I had Velcade/prednisone.

[Sharona]

Re: 11 days treatment then 14-16 days off - is this normal?

by Sharona on Sun Nov 10, 2013 5:16 am

Thanks Wayne, so maybe not all that out of the ordinary. I hope that you are doing well.

[Joy]

Re: 11 days treatment then 14-16 days off - is this normal?

by Joy on Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:55 pm

Mine was 2 weeks on and one week off. That was 2 Velcade shots per week, Revlimid every night for 14 days and Dex on the Velcade days. This was followed by a one week break to conclude each cycle.

[Sharona]

Re: 11 days treatment then 14-16 days off - is this normal?

by Sharona on Mon Nov 11, 2013 5:51 am

Thanks Joy, I know he gets Velcade on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 but that's all I know. I do hope I can catch up with the English speaking Doctor when I take him back on the 20th. I have so many questions to ask her. Take care.

[Justine]

Re: 11 days treatment then 14-16 days off - is this normal?

by Justine on Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:58 pm

Hello, I am really feeling for you going through this on your own in a foreign country. Is anyone supporting you?
I'm in Australia, 42years old mother with babies, diagnosed early August, high risk 52% cancer cells, bone lesions,, anaemia but everything else ok apparently. I had to start treat urgently....Velcade/dex/ cyclophosomide/ 21 cycle, 1 week off but taking cyclo every day. I'm having stem cell harvest next week with a view to do stem cell transplant. My progress has been slow, I'm still at 29% cancer cells & need to get below 26 to do the transplant, so I will be having intense chemo in hospital for 3 days before harvest. It sounds like your husbands case is very complicated, he has alot of separate factors going on? All I can say for myself is my medical team say timing is everything & they are doing everything without delaying. Let us know how you go with the English speaking doctor.

Can you access any help through the British high commission there?

[Pjorg45]

Re: 11 days treatment then 14-16 days off - is this normal?

by Pjorg45 on Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:43 pm

This is the cycle I was on with RVD. It worked great. They wanted to change it to 21/7, but I don't think I could have withstood it that way.

I am not sure they know why it should be one or another.

Paul Jorgensen
Annapolis MD