Hi,
My 64 year old husband was diagnosed in 2011 and then participated in a clinical trial of Kyprolis, Revlimid, and dex for 24 cycles. After that, maintenance was Revlimid and dex. He was in complete response until December 2015 when his M-spike started slowly but steadily every month or so, despite the Revlimid, dex, then Ninlaro and Cytoxan, and 3 cycles of a new clinical study drug, MPDL3280A (atezolizumab, Tecentriq).
His myeloma activity has worsened his lytic lesion in his femur to the extent it is going to fracture. He is scheduled to have surgery this week to implant metal stabilization hardware in the femur and might need hip replacement as well, depending on the femur's condition once the orthopedic oncology surgeon gets in there.
I'm wondering what we can expect from the surgery to stabilize the lytic lesion in the femur (long bone in upper leg)? Is the surgery difficult? How is the recovery time?
Thanks,
Chris M.
Forums
Re: Surgery to stabilize lytic lesion in femur
Sorry to hear of your husband's woes. I have had both of my humeri affected. My left one was caught just before it fractured and they put in a 'nail' inside of it to stabilize it. The right side, unfortunately fractured before we could have surgery, but we also put another 'nail' in it. This surgery was successful on both arms! I would think there would be a similar type of 'nail' or ? for the femur.
Best of luck with it all, Gary
Best of luck with it all, Gary
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GaryH - Name: GaryH
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov./97
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Surgery to stabilize lytic lesion in femur
Hi Chris,
I’m so sorry to hear of your husband’s problems with a lytic lesion of the femur.
Prior to my myeloma diagnosis, but after a bone scan and MRI in late October 2015, I also learned that my right femur was on the verge of fracturing. I went in for immediate surgery to prevent the imminent fracture. A metal rod / nail was inserted down into my femur to hold the bone in place, while a second screw / nail was put into the head of my femur (near the hip). I stayed in the hospital for one night only after surgery, and a biopsy of bone marrow taken during this femur surgery confirmed my myeloma diagnosis a week later.
Recuperation from this surgery was a little frustrating because I had to rely so heavily on others for grocery shopping, housekeeping, dog walking, etc., for the first eight weeks after surgery. I had my bathroom outfitted with a raised toilet seat, tub handles (to facilitate getting in and out of the bathtub), and a tub seat. I used a walker for two weeks after surgery, and then graduated to a cane for another six weeks. I could not drive for a total of about eight weeks after surgery. I had a physiotherapist come to my home once a week for the first six weeks to help me with strengthening exercises, which I practiced religiously. Within approx. 3 months after surgery I was back to walking my big dog 2 km (1.25 miles) a day, and I currently walk 5 km (3.1 miles) daily and swim lengths 4 times a week at my local YMCA.
I do still feel pain in my femur sometimes; especially if I over- exercise or if I sleep on my right side and put too much pressure on it. My right leg is still weaker than my left leg, but, in general, I think I’ve recuperated quite well from the surgery.
I hope this helps, and wish your husband much success with his upcoming surgery.
I’m so sorry to hear of your husband’s problems with a lytic lesion of the femur.
Prior to my myeloma diagnosis, but after a bone scan and MRI in late October 2015, I also learned that my right femur was on the verge of fracturing. I went in for immediate surgery to prevent the imminent fracture. A metal rod / nail was inserted down into my femur to hold the bone in place, while a second screw / nail was put into the head of my femur (near the hip). I stayed in the hospital for one night only after surgery, and a biopsy of bone marrow taken during this femur surgery confirmed my myeloma diagnosis a week later.
Recuperation from this surgery was a little frustrating because I had to rely so heavily on others for grocery shopping, housekeeping, dog walking, etc., for the first eight weeks after surgery. I had my bathroom outfitted with a raised toilet seat, tub handles (to facilitate getting in and out of the bathtub), and a tub seat. I used a walker for two weeks after surgery, and then graduated to a cane for another six weeks. I could not drive for a total of about eight weeks after surgery. I had a physiotherapist come to my home once a week for the first six weeks to help me with strengthening exercises, which I practiced religiously. Within approx. 3 months after surgery I was back to walking my big dog 2 km (1.25 miles) a day, and I currently walk 5 km (3.1 miles) daily and swim lengths 4 times a week at my local YMCA.
I do still feel pain in my femur sometimes; especially if I over- exercise or if I sleep on my right side and put too much pressure on it. My right leg is still weaker than my left leg, but, in general, I think I’ve recuperated quite well from the surgery.
I hope this helps, and wish your husband much success with his upcoming surgery.
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KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Surgery to stabilize lytic lesion in femur
Thank you for the replies, Gary and Karena. I'm so glad to hear your surgeries were successful!
It sounds like my husband's surgery will be very much like Karena's, possibly with a hip replacement. Did either of you have any radiation to the lesion area before or after surgery? We've been told to expect he will have it at a date to be determined afterwards. I wonder what possible side effects that might cause, but we haven't met with the radiation doctor yet.
He's always been very active despite this roller coaster known as myeloma, and walked 2 miles a day with me until the lesion became very painful. I'm very encouraged by your experiences that in the future he'll be able to do it again.
Best wishes,
Chris M.
It sounds like my husband's surgery will be very much like Karena's, possibly with a hip replacement. Did either of you have any radiation to the lesion area before or after surgery? We've been told to expect he will have it at a date to be determined afterwards. I wonder what possible side effects that might cause, but we haven't met with the radiation doctor yet.
He's always been very active despite this roller coaster known as myeloma, and walked 2 miles a day with me until the lesion became very painful. I'm very encouraged by your experiences that in the future he'll be able to do it again.
Best wishes,
Chris M.
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Chris M
Re: Surgery to stabilize lytic lesion in femur
Hi Chris,
No, I did not have radiation to my femur lesion either before or after surgery. There was no time before surgery, and I decided to wait for at least 6 weeks after surgery to decide if I wanted / needed it. I really wanted to avoid radiation, if possible, and since the occasional discomfort / pain I experience in that area is really not too bad, I decided against radiation.
No, I did not have radiation to my femur lesion either before or after surgery. There was no time before surgery, and I decided to wait for at least 6 weeks after surgery to decide if I wanted / needed it. I really wanted to avoid radiation, if possible, and since the occasional discomfort / pain I experience in that area is really not too bad, I decided against radiation.
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KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Surgery to stabilize lytic lesion in femur
Thank you for replying, Karena. I'm glad to hear your femur surgery helped enough that you didn't need radiation for palliative care for the pain!
Best wishes,
Chris
Best wishes,
Chris
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Chris M
Re: Surgery to stabilize lytic lesion in femur
I had a nail in right femur when MRI showed fracture was a great possibility. I had had x-ray and bone scan done several months earlier and nothing showed on either one. But as the pain persisted it finally showed up. I went from MRI on Friday, radiologist on Monday morning, directly to ortho doctor and surgery the next day. I came home the day after surgery and had home therapy for two weeks, then had 5 radiation treatments – not for pain, but at doctor's suggestion.
Went from walker to cane and doing great. I did have rehab about two months later. This was in August 2014. I still occasionally have a sore knee where the bolts are in and its a little stiff at times. I just need to remember to keep exercising. This seems to be a problem a lot are going through and hopefully it will be an easy process for you. I was 62 at time of surgery
Went from walker to cane and doing great. I did have rehab about two months later. This was in August 2014. I still occasionally have a sore knee where the bolts are in and its a little stiff at times. I just need to remember to keep exercising. This seems to be a problem a lot are going through and hopefully it will be an easy process for you. I was 62 at time of surgery
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Music box lady - Name: Margie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Surgery to stabilize lytic lesion in femur
I'm very glad to hear your surgery was successful, Margie! My husband's is tomorrow and I'm hopeful his will go well, too.
Best wishes,
Chris M.
Best wishes,
Chris M.
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Chris M
Re: Surgery to stabilize lytic lesion in femur
My husband was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August, 2015. His symptoms were rib pain, which our family doctor attributed to coughing and possibly fracturing a rib from the coughing. An x-ray and MRI, however, showed lesions on the rib, and he was soon diagnosed with multiple myeloma. He is in a clinical trial (Revlimid, dexamethasone, Darzalex) and has been in remission since February of 2016. He is 75 years old and our oncologist did not recommend a stem cell transplant at the time.
He is on once-a-month treatment with the Darzalex and dex, as well as a bone strengthener. He also takes Revlimid 21 days a month with 7 days off. He never had any symptoms from any of the drugs and we were convinced that we had "beaten" this awful disease.
In June of 2016, however, he began having pain in his left femur which got worse and worse. I took him to an orthopedic practice in July and they determined that he had a 4.5 cm lesion on that femur which was in danger of causing a fracture. In July, 2016, an orthopedic surgeon placed a rod in that femur to prevent a fracture.
Unfortunately, his leg pain has never gotten any better. We were finally referred to an orthopedic oncologist who diagnosed him as having a stress fracture at the hip – in November, 2016. Since that time, he has done minimal walking (with a cane) and uses a wheelchair at home 24/7. The pain has never fully gone away but the less he walks, the less it hurts. We are hopeful that it will eventually heal and that we will be able to return to our normal activity level.
It is discouraging to realize that the cancer is in remission, yet he still feels like an invalid because of the pain.
He is on once-a-month treatment with the Darzalex and dex, as well as a bone strengthener. He also takes Revlimid 21 days a month with 7 days off. He never had any symptoms from any of the drugs and we were convinced that we had "beaten" this awful disease.
In June of 2016, however, he began having pain in his left femur which got worse and worse. I took him to an orthopedic practice in July and they determined that he had a 4.5 cm lesion on that femur which was in danger of causing a fracture. In July, 2016, an orthopedic surgeon placed a rod in that femur to prevent a fracture.
Unfortunately, his leg pain has never gotten any better. We were finally referred to an orthopedic oncologist who diagnosed him as having a stress fracture at the hip – in November, 2016. Since that time, he has done minimal walking (with a cane) and uses a wheelchair at home 24/7. The pain has never fully gone away but the less he walks, the less it hurts. We are hopeful that it will eventually heal and that we will be able to return to our normal activity level.
It is discouraging to realize that the cancer is in remission, yet he still feels like an invalid because of the pain.
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Janet M
Re: Surgery to stabilize lytic lesion in femur
I just had a nail inserted into my left femur for a lesion where got so painful I couldn't walk with my cane.
Surgery was on Dec 28, and went home on Dec 31. More detail in my induction thread here: https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/revlimid-velcade-dexamethasone-induction-therapy-t8176.html
I also just had back surgery on Jan 4, a Vertebral Column Resection, and there's more info here: https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/vertebral-column-resection-vcr-multiple-myeloma-t8281.html
I am home as of this afternoon. I will post X-rays of both surgeries when I'm in front of a computer.
Recovery will be long and tough, but I can move with a walker and do stairs with a cane.
Surgery was on Dec 28, and went home on Dec 31. More detail in my induction thread here: https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/revlimid-velcade-dexamethasone-induction-therapy-t8176.html
I also just had back surgery on Jan 4, a Vertebral Column Resection, and there's more info here: https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/vertebral-column-resection-vcr-multiple-myeloma-t8281.html
I am home as of this afternoon. I will post X-rays of both surgeries when I'm in front of a computer.
Recovery will be long and tough, but I can move with a walker and do stairs with a cane.
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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
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