[hulk2k16]

Is it too soon to get radiation therapy?

by hulk2k16 on Mon Apr 18, 2016 10:31 pm

My mom was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma with t(4,14) translocation. She started chemo last week with the following:

Dexamethasone - weekly
Velcade - Monday and Thursday
Revlimid - daily

Her doctors feel that the diagnosis was made early with only slightly fluctuations in the normal levels of protein. After several months of chemo, the plan was to perform a bone marrow transplant assuming she responds to the drugs.

Last Friday, April 15, she started to have severe pain in her leg and today was barely able to walk.

A CT scan today confirmed there's no bone fracture, but her oncologist offered radiation therapy 4 times a week for the next couple of weeks to ease the pain. She will start that tomorrow.

My question is, is this too soon?

Thanks.

[JPC]

Re: Is it too soon to get radiation therapy?

by JPC on Tue Apr 19, 2016 6:42 am

Hello Hulk:

If you are seeing a myeloma specialist with a qualified radiologist, they would be qualified to read the scan and see if there are any lesions on the bone requiring radiation. But just to address your concern, I have a question for you to ask the doctor. Velcade causes pain, potentially in the arms and legs, a condition called peripheral neuropathy (often abbreviated "PN"). If your mother is getting radiated for peripheral neuropathy, the radiation is not going to help. How is the doctor sure that the pain is caused by lytic lesions (or similar condition) and not peripheral neuropathy?

Good luck

[NStewart]

Re: Is it too soon to get radiation therapy?

by NStewart on Thu Apr 21, 2016 5:43 pm

If your mother has a documented bone lesion that is causing the pain, then it isn't too early for radiation to the lesion. The radiation will kill any myeloma at the site of the lesion and reduce the pain from it. If it is done prior to the lesion worsening to the point where a fracture is likely to happen, it can prevent a fracture from happening.

I had radiation to a painful lesion a few years ago and have no pain there now. I had just restarted treatment at the time.

Nancy in Phila

[hulk2k16]

Re: Is it too soon to get radiation therapy?

by hulk2k16 on Thu Apr 21, 2016 10:25 pm

Thank you both for the reply. Today was day 3 of her radiation therapy and her leg pain has subsided a bit. So hopefully this continues.