[LenM]

Stem cell transplant at age 75?

by LenM on Tue Dec 01, 2015 8:20 pm

Hi everyone,

I've been reading the thoughtful discussions about stem cell transplants very carefully, and have learned a lot. I haven't seen my specific question covered, so I'm posting to the Forum for the first time, and hoping some of you may have any insights about this.

I turn 75 in 6 weeks. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma a year ago, and felt great on my initial Velcade / dex regimen. But the neuropathy became too difficult. My hematologist switched me to Revlimid / dex last spring. It worked fairly well and he began recommending a stem cell transplant (SCT) by July. My wife started researching, and discovered that several leading SCT centers (including Mayo) mention a maximum age of 75, and sometimes even 70, for transplant patients.

After we met with transplant team at Memorial Sloan-Kettering – where tests showed I would qualify for a stem cell transplant – my hematologist took me off my meds in preparation for possibly starting the collection process. I was weak, tired, and generally felt awful. Then, I decided to hold off on a stem cell decision, and he put me back on only the dex (40 mg weekly) in mid-October. I began having more energy, went back to playing golf, and doing things that had been too difficult for a while.

Now that I'm feeling much better, I'm very torn between giving up 6-9 months of my active life, OR maintaining my drug treatments as long as they're effective, then trying new ones. Where I'm stumped is trying to decide whether a stem cell transplant makes sense for a 75-year-old? We can't find any literature or personal accounts helping us see whether the reward might be worth the risks at that age.

If you're over 70 or have seen multiple myeloma patients over 70 who made a stem cell transplant decision, I'd be very grateful to know how it worked out. Thanks very much.

LennyM
age at diagnosis 73
diagnosed November 2014

[goldmine848]

Re: Stem cell transplant at age 75?

by goldmine848 on Tue Dec 01, 2015 10:06 pm

My former father-in-law had a stem cell transplant at age 75. This was about seven years ago when transplants were more in vogue than they are now and when the drug options were less plentiful. He handled it from a physical standpoint and survived for about six years after the transplant.

I suppose that if I were in your position and in good enough health to handle a transplant I would not let my age be a deciding factor. Whether to undergo a transplant at any age is a complicated a question on which reasonable minds can differ.

I can say from my own experience, albeit at age 61 instead of 75, it did not take 6-9 months out of my active life. Many others have had similar experiences. So you should carefully investigate the treatment options available to you and make the decision with which you are most comfortable.

[BeatMyeloma]

Re: Stem cell transplant at age 75?

by BeatMyeloma on Wed Dec 02, 2015 6:34 pm

I agree with goldmine, Lenny. Nowadays, it seems highly dependent on the individual.

What is your overall health like? Your fitness level? Any comorbidties?

Everyone is so different, I couldn't tell you whether or not to get a SCT. All I can say is that I wouldn't rule it out 100% based on age.

[LenM]

Re: Stem cell transplant at age 75?

by LenM on Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:08 pm

Thanks for your responses, BeatMyeloma and goldmine. This forum has been helpful in several respects, not the least of which is identifying more questions to ask my doctor.

It is more confusing because my Hgb numbers have risen significantly for the past month and a half (from 8.7 to 11.7). And I'm on dex only. I think it will run its cycle and be rendered in­ef­fec­tive eventually but adding Revlimid or Velcade or maybe some of the new drugs coming out now might provide viable options to ASCT.

LENM