It was announced on the "Today" show this morning that Tom Brokaw is "officially in remission" regarding his multiple myeloma diagnosis, and will continue with a maintenance program. I am guessing a variety of meds?
Does anyone happen to know what his treatment regimen consisted of back when he was not in remission, that was able to get him to this level, and what his maintenance program would consist of?
Forums
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GLCarlton - Name: GLC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings!
May all of us in this multiple myeloma community succeed in our struggle against this common enemy!
I scanned through 4 or 5 pages of Internet search results on "Tom Brokaw's Treatment" and the only detail I found was:
"The veteran NBC newsman announced Sunday that, after months of chemotherapy, he soon will begin a drug maintenance program."
This was the same line in two separate articles I came across and it SEEMS Mr. Brokaw did NOT get any ASCT. This seems consistent with the news about Mr. Brokaw being active in the recent election and also receiving the White House Award, etc. over the past few months and considering his age. Nothing definitive, though.
Wishing Mr. Brokaw and all myeloma patients a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Who knows? May 2015 bring us a cure!
May all of us in this multiple myeloma community succeed in our struggle against this common enemy!
I scanned through 4 or 5 pages of Internet search results on "Tom Brokaw's Treatment" and the only detail I found was:
"The veteran NBC newsman announced Sunday that, after months of chemotherapy, he soon will begin a drug maintenance program."
This was the same line in two separate articles I came across and it SEEMS Mr. Brokaw did NOT get any ASCT. This seems consistent with the news about Mr. Brokaw being active in the recent election and also receiving the White House Award, etc. over the past few months and considering his age. Nothing definitive, though.
Wishing Mr. Brokaw and all myeloma patients a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Who knows? May 2015 bring us a cure!
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K_Shash - Name: K_Shash
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 67
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
It was announced this week that Tom Brokaw is writing a book about his experiences with multiple myeloma. The book is scheduled to be released in May. I'll be looking forward to hearing what he has to say.
Mike
More info on book announcement:
"Brokaw's new book on his life 'interrupted'," USA Today, March 2, 2015 (link to full story)
From the article:
Mike
More info on book announcement:
"Brokaw's new book on his life 'interrupted'," USA Today, March 2, 2015 (link to full story)
From the article:
Tom Brokaw, beloved ex-NBC news anchor, best-selling author, gray eminence of American culture, was enjoying his lucky streak when cancer rudely interrupted. Now he's set to tell us all about it in a new memoir.
Random House announced Monday it will publish Brokaw's "candid" new book, A Lucky Life Interrupted, on May 12.
It's going to be the story of what happened after Brokaw's doctors broke the news he had multiple myeloma, an incurable but treatable blood cancer.
Shocked that his good life had suddenly veered into the realm of doctors, drugs and bad karma, he began a year of struggle and courage in the face of his own mortality.
He began keeping a journal in the fall of 2013, which became the basis for this memoir, Random House said in a statement.
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Book release is called "A Lucky Life Interrupted" and it appears it deals with his treatment over the year plus it took him to get into remission.
I think it will be great for those interested enough to read, to see what we go through. From the outside, many times myeloma patients look OK ... right up until it starts to get real bad. People may think it is easy. As we all know, it is not! May 6 release date for hard cover. I think digital is available sooner!
I think it will be great for those interested enough to read, to see what we go through. From the outside, many times myeloma patients look OK ... right up until it starts to get real bad. People may think it is easy. As we all know, it is not! May 6 release date for hard cover. I think digital is available sooner!
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bluemountain
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Brokaw will be on NBC Dateline tomorrow, talking about his dealings with multiple myeloma. Here's a preview:(also viewable at the official NBC Dateline website)
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Tom had a special diet, along with an extended induction, and long term chemo.
Same treatment, I had...in 2013.
In addition to the standard Induction with Velcade, new immodulary drugs, extended use of Revlimid w/ Dexamethasone, and supportive meds,... a special diet of "Flapjacks and Flounder" was also used.
I finally worked up the courage and asked my Doctor,... " Dr Vimmy Boom-Bots, ( Johnny Carson's Doctor) why did you give me all those flap-jacks and flounder ???" " Was it the Proteins in the pancake batter ? " Was it all the Vitamin E in the Fish ?" Please explain.
Okay, he said, clearing his throat and sounding much like John Facienda of the Old NFL Films.
" It was clear we had to feed you something.....and flap-jacks and Flounder slid under the door the easiest !"
Sometimes mysteries....aren't.
Glad Tom is better. Have a good Thursday, all.
Same treatment, I had...in 2013.
In addition to the standard Induction with Velcade, new immodulary drugs, extended use of Revlimid w/ Dexamethasone, and supportive meds,... a special diet of "Flapjacks and Flounder" was also used.
I finally worked up the courage and asked my Doctor,... " Dr Vimmy Boom-Bots, ( Johnny Carson's Doctor) why did you give me all those flap-jacks and flounder ???" " Was it the Proteins in the pancake batter ? " Was it all the Vitamin E in the Fish ?" Please explain.
Okay, he said, clearing his throat and sounding much like John Facienda of the Old NFL Films.
" It was clear we had to feed you something.....and flap-jacks and Flounder slid under the door the easiest !"
Sometimes mysteries....aren't.
Glad Tom is better. Have a good Thursday, all.
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Rneb
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
I guess Mr. Brokaw also had a kyphoplasty done as part of his initial treatment.
"Tom Brokaw: What Every Patient Should Know," Parade, May 1 (full text of article)
Excerpt:
"Tom Brokaw: What Every Patient Should Know," Parade, May 1 (full text of article)
Excerpt:
The kyphoplasty [a procedure to shore up spinal fractures] was a life-changer. The doctor didn’t want me to play golf any more and was worried about me fly-fishing. Golf is something I enjoy, but fly-fishing is a different thing: That’s religion. Hunting is religion for me. I didn’t want to give those up. I did go hunting last fall, and I got really tired ... I couldn’t get my body to respond the way I wanted it to.”
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
While watching the televised program on Tom Brokaw, I was reminded of my own Dad. He was approaching an 88th birthday, but fell short by a few months. He passed on March 26, 2011 after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2005 and fought it as best he could with chemo and the spinal reinforcement.
He was in pain for quite a while. He went in the hospital on March 1, 2011 only to be sent home after a few days. My family (my retired school teacher mother and 2 younger sisters) were able to perform 24 hour care in a house that he and Momma shared for more than 30 years. This WWII ex-Marine and retired high school educator was very comfortable into his last stage of transition.
Keep fighting, Tom. Please accept my thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
He was in pain for quite a while. He went in the hospital on March 1, 2011 only to be sent home after a few days. My family (my retired school teacher mother and 2 younger sisters) were able to perform 24 hour care in a house that he and Momma shared for more than 30 years. This WWII ex-Marine and retired high school educator was very comfortable into his last stage of transition.
Keep fighting, Tom. Please accept my thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
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gee2u61353 - Name: George Wise, Sr.
- Who do you know with myeloma?: H.P. Wise
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2005
- Age at diagnosis: 87
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
While the program didn't cover all the travails and challenges that multiple myeloma patients can go through, I thought the Dateline segment was a good treatment of multiple myeloma for the general public. It looks like Mr. Brokaw started on Rd (Revlimid and dex), graduated to RVd (Revlimid, Velcade, and dex), and then had a subsequent dose tweak to deal with some fatigue he was experiencing. He is now on maintenance therapy.
One of our familiar Beacon Medical Advisors, Dr. Landau, showed up in a pretty big way on what I presume was her network TV debut. There were several other who's-who in the multiple myeloma medical field who also appeared on the segment, including Dr. Ken Anderson of Dana-Farber and Dr. Morie Gertz of the Mayo.
If you watch closely, you will note a scene where the Beacon shows up quite prominently on a computer screen a couple of times as they discuss the importance of researching the disease.
I'm sure you will be able to catch this Dateline segment on the Internet if you didn't have a chance to watch it tonight.
One of our familiar Beacon Medical Advisors, Dr. Landau, showed up in a pretty big way on what I presume was her network TV debut. There were several other who's-who in the multiple myeloma medical field who also appeared on the segment, including Dr. Ken Anderson of Dana-Farber and Dr. Morie Gertz of the Mayo.
If you watch closely, you will note a scene where the Beacon shows up quite prominently on a computer screen a couple of times as they discuss the importance of researching the disease.
I'm sure you will be able to catch this Dateline segment on the Internet if you didn't have a chance to watch it tonight.
Last edited by Multibilly on Fri May 08, 2015 6:44 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Tom Brokaw diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Thanks for posting Multibilly. We are about to watch it here on the West Coast and we will look out for Dr. Landau and the Beacon! 
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Jean Ruth Howard - Name: Jeannie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 47