[barbara1200]

Starting treatment with Velcade

by barbara1200 on Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:25 pm

I will be starting treatment Feb. 5th with Velcade shots & 2 different pills. One is melphalan 2mg. And Acyclonir 200. Does anyone have any experience with this combo?

Also, the doctor wants me to take prednisone 50 mg four days a month. I have been diabetic but have had normal blood sugars for 2 years now & I am afraid this will send me into blood sugar problems again. Presently, I take no meds for diabetes.

Anyone have any info on taking steriods with this type of chemo?

Thanks for any info.

[Multibilly]

Re: Starting treatment with Velcade

by Multibilly on Thu Jan 16, 2014 10:09 pm

Are you in Europe?

Velcade/​Melphalan/​Prednisone (VMP) is a common drug combo used in multiple myeloma treatment in Europe.

Acyclovir is a drug that is used to help prevent herpes since Velcade can make you more prone to developing it. It is not really treating the multiple myeloma itself.

You ask if there is any info about taking steroids with this combo, but note that prednisone is a steroid itself.

You might find these beacon news posts on VMP to be helpful:

https://myelomabeacon.org/news/2012/11/14/lower-dose-velcade-bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone-salvage-therapy-for-older-multiple-myeloma-patients/

https://myelomabeacon.org/resources/mtgs/ash2013/abs/403/

https://myelomabeacon.org/resources/mtgs/eha2013/abs/s1154/

[Wayne K]

Re: Starting treatment with Velcade

by Wayne K on Fri Jan 17, 2014 1:40 pm

I took Velcade/prednisone and it was very effective for me. I do believe my prednisone dose was higher and I took it in the first 2 treatments of every cycle. It is the one negative I remember most about my treatment. I had a terrible time sleeping the night after a dose and usually didn't sleep for close to 24 hours after the first heavier dose.

At the risk of exposing a bad memory, I believe my first dose was around 3 or 4 hundred and far above the 50 you will have.

[barbara1200]

Re: Starting treatment with Velcade

by barbara1200 on Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:35 pm

Thanks so much for the feedback. As with most everyone, I am experiencing the apprehension everyone feels starting chemo. You wonder if you will be able to tolerate the treatment & then you wonder how you will pay for it if you do tolerate it. The social worker they gave me was wonderful in helping me thru the money part so now all I have to worry about is tolerating the meds. This Board has been SO helpful in all the information it gives about this disease which I had never heard of before. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. It helps so much to be able to talk to someone who has been thru the same things that we all are facing.