[cowgirl]

Specialist In Las Vegas, NV?

by cowgirl on Fri Aug 30, 2013 3:12 am

Does anyone know a Multiple Myeloma specialist in Las Vegas, NV? , I have read about the Utah and CA doctors, but nothing in this area.

My husband was diagnosed 2 years ago and would like another opinion on his treatment. I'm concerned he's not getting the best treatment. He's not a candidate for a stem cell trans and has some rather bad side effects from everything, especially the Dex. After being on Velcade 6 months IV and high dose Dex, and having severe side effects, but some better blood results, went to subcutaneous Velcade without Dex and OK side effects, but worse blood results. He then went to Revilmid but with different doses and no Dex, then some low dose Dex. It just seems like they are just experimenting with his dose.

ALSO, he seldom gets a urine test, noticed several people on the forums do have them.
His doctor goes strictly by the M-spike, which is at 1 now after Rev brought it down for a couple of months first at .5, then .6, went to 1, then .9, now again 1.
His doctor doesn't give much attention to Beta 2, which has gone up to 3.15, after starting at, 2.25, 2.78, 2.90.

He thought he was having a heart attack the other day and severe chest pains and barely could move had to take several Nitros. He stopped taking the Rev and the next day without it didn't have the severe pain and every day is feeling better. He is 70 with some heart problems or really some blockage problems, heart seemed strong, but just had an EKG and it showed it was worse than 2 months ago. The doctor wasn't sure if it was meds or more blockage. He is going for a heart PET scan tomorrow and going from there and in the meantime off the Rev and Dex. He just had his regular labs yesterday, but won't find out about them until next week for his appointment, with the Nurse Practitioner, being his doctor is not available again, second month in a row without the doctors input. Might I mention he is at the best center we have in Vegas. He seems to want to stop the chemo completely and wants to live his life without feeling like he's been run over by a truck all the time. I haven't seen 'end life' of this cancer, but I know it can't be pleasant and maybe worse than the side effects from the chemo???
Thank you for any suggestions or help.

[JBarnes]

Re: Specialist In Las Vegas, NV?

by JBarnes on Fri Aug 30, 2013 5:21 pm

Have you considered doing a conference with Mayo or another Myeloma center? They can review your treatment plan while reviewing your current stats. My local oncologist not only suggested it but provided we with the necessary information to make it happen. In my mind a good oncologist may not know the best treatment plans but spends the time to get qualified help and explains in detail your treatment plan and why he makes some of the decisions he makes. In this day and age I think it becomes a responsibility of the patient to seek out information and work with the oncologist on a treatment plan. There is no right answer to this disease. We all respond differently and it becomes a guessing game as to what may or may not work for each patient.

In my case I live in a smaller town than you do and found a oncologist who I trusted. I review my treatment and current blood work every three months with the experts in Denver.

Good luck to your husband and you. Jerry.