Congrats.
Sorry you have had so many recent hiccups, but I believe that you will look back on 2016-17 as we do 2015-16 – a trial by fire, a marathon (with the occasional sprint), a time to redefine yourself.
There are so many (partial) metaphors for this journey.
I called 2016 my year of sadness – and i won't miss it – but it was not without learning or insight or growth.
Wishing you health in 2017.
Wishing you and your wife rest and support.
We are on a break from treatment until January 7th.
It does get better. Happy new year.
rick
Forums
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rick - Name: rick
- Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: nov 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 50
Re: PostiveChris's RVD / VRD induction therapy
Thinking of you and your surgery on Wednesday.
I have labs Tuesday to see if the induction is working. My IgG was so high to start (14000), it has to come down ... I hope.
Here's to a better 2017!
I have labs Tuesday to see if the induction is working. My IgG was so high to start (14000), it has to come down ... I hope.
Here's to a better 2017!
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Benny - Name: BM1971
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 12/2/16
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: PostiveChris's RVD / VRD induction therapy
I'm recovering well from the leg surgery. Still painful, but I'm not taking any pain meds. I report tomorrow morning bright and early for the back surgery. I should be in the hospital for 3-4 days after, and hopefully can get back on my induction during that time.
Benny, I hope your numbers come back great!
Benny, I hope your numbers come back great!
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PositiveChris - Name: Chris
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 11/28/2016
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: PostiveChris's RVD / VRD induction therapy
Chris.
You are a tough guy. I am sure as a patient being in such good shape going into a treatment you will do very well.
My numbers were really good (for me). I don't have my M-spike back, but my IgG dropped from 10342 (so high) to 2580 mg/dL after 1 cycle. My doctor was really happy and it was a nice shot in the arm for me too.
Good luck with the "big" surgery. Keep us posted!
You are a tough guy. I am sure as a patient being in such good shape going into a treatment you will do very well.
My numbers were really good (for me). I don't have my M-spike back, but my IgG dropped from 10342 (so high) to 2580 mg/dL after 1 cycle. My doctor was really happy and it was a nice shot in the arm for me too.
Good luck with the "big" surgery. Keep us posted!
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Benny - Name: BM1971
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 12/2/16
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: PostiveChris's RVD / VRD induction therapy
Benny, awesome news! Looks like you're having a great response!
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PositiveChris - Name: Chris
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 11/28/2016
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: PostiveChris's RVD / VRD induction therapy
It's looking like I'm starting back on my induction next Tuesday. They want to give me more time to recover from surgery and raise my blood counts. Makes sense.
I think they're going to move me over to Kyprolis, Revlimid, and dexamethasone (KRD), and I will provide more detail on that later.
I'm looking forward to getting back on the wagon.
I think they're going to move me over to Kyprolis, Revlimid, and dexamethasone (KRD), and I will provide more detail on that later.
I'm looking forward to getting back on the wagon.
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PositiveChris - Name: Chris
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 11/28/2016
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: PostiveChris's RVD / VRD induction therapy
Glad the surgery went well ... and I guess welcome to the KRD team?
My husband starts maintenance on Saturday with Kyprolis and dexamethasone and days 1, 2, 15, and 16, and Revlimid on days 1-21, of a 28 day cycle..
Continued speedy recovery.
rick
My husband starts maintenance on Saturday with Kyprolis and dexamethasone and days 1, 2, 15, and 16, and Revlimid on days 1-21, of a 28 day cycle..
Continued speedy recovery.
rick
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rick - Name: rick
- Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: nov 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 50
Re: PostiveChris's RVD / VRD induction therapy
Hi Chris.
I am having similar problems with constipation.
I was given the following link from the BC Cancer Agency in Canada
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/family-oncology-network-site/Documents/SuggestionsforDealingwithConstipation.pdf
Increasing the sennoseides helped and I resorted to lactulose to really get to the bottom of it (so to speak).
I am having similar problems with constipation.
I was given the following link from the BC Cancer Agency in Canada
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/family-oncology-network-site/Documents/SuggestionsforDealingwithConstipation.pdf
Increasing the sennoseides helped and I resorted to lactulose to really get to the bottom of it (so to speak).
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Colin - Name: Colin Rice
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: PostiveChris's RVD / VRD induction therapy
Another laxative to try is Lax a Day (polyethylene glycol). I needed to use that when taking Revlimid, but did use Senokot when on induction chemo with Velcade. I found that the Laxaday worked the best, and it was recommended to me by the oncology nurses. Hope that helps!
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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: PostiveChris's RVD / VRD induction therapy
Best of luck with the induction therapy. My induction was RVD – 15 mg Revlimid, 2.6 Velcade twice a week (which they reduced to 2.1 after 3rd week), and 20 mg dexamethasone when I had the Velcade injection. My initial cycles were 2 weeks on, one week off. This was changed after cycle 3 to 3 weeks on and 1 week off, but my Revlimid dosage was reduced to 10 mg. The oncologist had suggested Zometa in addition to RVD, but I didn't want to take it because my bone scan was fine and a friend of mine had a bad experience on it.
On the RVD - First week, I got the hiccups, which lasted on and off for 3 days (ugh!). Also, I ran a slight fever after the first treatment. However, all that cleared up. I started taking the Revlimid in the evening, but I found that in the morning my eyes were really puffy, so I changed to taking it in the morning and that cleared up the puffy eyes.
Also, as with most of you, I do get the Velcade burns from the injections, and it really didn't matter if they did it slow, fast, or somewhere in between. There was always a burn mark. I did experience some constipation; prune juice really helped.
But my results were good. After 2 cycles, no M-spike and all my numbers were in normal range. I kept with the treatment for 5 cycles. I started to get some painful foot neuropathy (now dealing with some planter fasciitis, which I'm sure is somehow related to the treatment), and the oncologist decided to end the treatments. I will be seeing the myeloma specialist in March. Hoping you have a positive reaction to the treatment.
By the way – my myeloma specialist wanted me to do a stem cell transplant, but I declined because I responded so positively to the drug treatment.
On the RVD - First week, I got the hiccups, which lasted on and off for 3 days (ugh!). Also, I ran a slight fever after the first treatment. However, all that cleared up. I started taking the Revlimid in the evening, but I found that in the morning my eyes were really puffy, so I changed to taking it in the morning and that cleared up the puffy eyes.
Also, as with most of you, I do get the Velcade burns from the injections, and it really didn't matter if they did it slow, fast, or somewhere in between. There was always a burn mark. I did experience some constipation; prune juice really helped.
But my results were good. After 2 cycles, no M-spike and all my numbers were in normal range. I kept with the treatment for 5 cycles. I started to get some painful foot neuropathy (now dealing with some planter fasciitis, which I'm sure is somehow related to the treatment), and the oncologist decided to end the treatments. I will be seeing the myeloma specialist in March. Hoping you have a positive reaction to the treatment.
By the way – my myeloma specialist wanted me to do a stem cell transplant, but I declined because I responded so positively to the drug treatment.
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Kebo - Name: Kebo
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 51
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