Jwoods, I concur with bond007 and suzierose. You should get the stem cell harvest done sooner rather than later. I am 11 cycles into treatment and had my stem cell harvest between the the 5th and 6th cycle. I am on CRD, and as bond007 indicated, Revlimid can inhibit the stem cell collection so my doctor wanted to get the harvest between the 4th and 6th cycles.
I self injected neupogen for several days prior to the harvest to stimulate production. They wanted to collect 6 million per kg of body weight in order to get enough for two transplants.
Unfortunately, on the first day they only collected 0.5 million. Consequently, I received a mozobil injection and on the second day they harvested 5 million. However, I was still 0.5 million short, so another mozobil injection, and on the third day they got another 4 million, so I now have enough for 3 tranplants. As a side note, I was the only one of four patients that didn't get enough collected on the first day, and the only one on Revlimid.
Note, they typically go with the neupogen prior to mozobil due to the cost of the mozobil injections (about $17,000 per injection).
Another note - both neupogen and mozobil will result in a lot of achiness, some nausea, and fatigue. Follow instructions from your doctor to prepare for it and get lots of sleep. After my third day, I was wiped out and my wife said I looked more worn out than she had ever seen me.
Nancy S also mentioned the stem cells could be kept for five years. Check with your facility on this. When I asked, I was told 10 years, possibly longer. This was important for me since I was hoping for treatments that could take me out past five years and I want to delay the SCT as long as practical.
Forums
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Kevin J - Name: Kevin J
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Variance in M-Spike and Free Kappa Light Chains
Kevin,
I have been meaning to ask you...why is your protocol 12 weeks vs. 8weeks in newly dx pts with CRD?
I have been meaning to ask you...why is your protocol 12 weeks vs. 8weeks in newly dx pts with CRD?
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suzierose - Name: suzierose
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2 sept 2011
Re: Variance in M-Spike and Free Kappa Light Chains
suzierose,
I was on CRD induction therapy for the first 8 cycles - three weeks on, one week off. I'll continue treatment for a total 0f 24 cycles, but now only get Carfilzomib on weeks 1 and 3 of each cycle (i.e., every other week). Still receive Revlimid on days 1-21 of each cycle, and dexamethasone the first day of each week in the cycle (though the dosage was reduced from 40mg to 20mg). Current plan is to continue with just Revlimid maintenance after 24 cycles. The other patients I've met at UofM that are in the CRD trial are on the same 24 cycle treatment.
I was on CRD induction therapy for the first 8 cycles - three weeks on, one week off. I'll continue treatment for a total 0f 24 cycles, but now only get Carfilzomib on weeks 1 and 3 of each cycle (i.e., every other week). Still receive Revlimid on days 1-21 of each cycle, and dexamethasone the first day of each week in the cycle (though the dosage was reduced from 40mg to 20mg). Current plan is to continue with just Revlimid maintenance after 24 cycles. The other patients I've met at UofM that are in the CRD trial are on the same 24 cycle treatment.
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Kevin J - Name: Kevin J
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 52
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