[AgarwalG10]

When should chemotherapy drugs be stopped?

by AgarwalG10 on Sun May 30, 2010 1:20 pm

Hello,

My father, 65 yrs old had light chain multiple myeloma with renal failure. He was given treatment of Velcade, Thalix [thalidomide] and dexamethasone. Velcade therapy was given for 6 cycles. He currently has peripheral neuropathy (PN) and an inflamed liver (High SGPT). His kidney function has improved and he is not on dialysis anymore. The latest bone marrow biopsy shows no morphological evidence of residual disease.

My father's doctor has suggested that he still continue thalidomide (100 mg) daily but it increases PN and even possibly impacts his liver.

My question is - So at what time or what are the indicators, which have to be used for stopping thalidomide or other chemotherapy drugs.

Also note: Doctors have indicated that my father is not a stem cell transplant candidate.

I would appreciate your comments on the same.

Thanks
Gaurav

[Pat Killingsworth]

Re: When should chemotherapy drugs be stopped?

by Pat Killingsworth on Tue Jun 01, 2010 1:22 pm

I'm glad your father is doing better! I'm not a physician, but I am a myeloma patient and medical writer, specializing in mutliple myeloma and other cancers. Oncologists seem split on whether to continue with maintenance therapy after a stem cell transplant or, like in your father's case, once CR is achieved. Most would continue therapy here--but not all. Because of the neuropathy (Thalomid can be nasty stuff!) and your father's other complications, I would strongly consider stopping, watching and waiting. If the myeloma starts to creep back again, many patients I know have had good luck going back on the meds which helped them before they took their drug holiday. Good luck! Pat