This poll question is one of four that we are running for several weeks, asking Beacon readers how many cycles of treatment they had with different initial treatment regimens.
This specific poll question should be answered by readers who were treated with the three-drug combination of Velcade, cyclosphosphamide (Cytoxan) and dexamethasone (VCD/CyBorD) as their initial (induction) therapy after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
The other three polls being conducted right now are similar, but are for readers whose initial treatment regimen was either Revlimid-dexamethasone (Rd, RD), Velcade-dexamethasone (Vd), or Revlimid-Velcade-dexamethasone (RVD, VRD).
A few clarifications:
First, please answer this poll question only if your initial therapy after diagnosis included only Velcade, cyclophosphamide, and dex as anti-myeloma agents. If your regimen also included one or more drugs in addition to Velcade, cyclophosphamide, and dex, we're afraid that we don't have a poll question for you at this time..
Note that, for the purpose of this poll, we are not counting bisphosphonates, such as Aredia (pamidronate) and Zometa (zoledronic acid), as "anti-myeloma therapies". Thus, you are still welcome to answer this poll question if, for example, you were put on a regimen of Velcade, cyclophosphamide, and dex plus regular Zometa infusions after your initial diagnosis.
Second, this question is about your initial (induction) therapy after diagnosis. Please do not answer the question if you received Velcade, cyclophosphamide, and dex as treatment after relapse, or as maintenance therapy after a stem cell transplant.
Third, if you are a caregiver or family member of a multiple myeloma patient, feel free to answer on their behalf.
Fourth, we realize that the length of a cycle of treatment sometimes can vary from patient to patient. Sometimes the cycle is 21 days. Sometimes it is 28 days. Other times it is longer. For your answer, please use whatever cycle length applied in your specific case.
Fifth, if you have the time, please post as a comment on the poll why you received as many cycles of Velcade-cyclophosphamide-dex as you did.
For example, was the number of cycles you received set in advance -- that is, did you and your doctors decide ahead of time that you would receive, say, four cycles of the regimen? Or was the number of cycles determined by how you responded to the treatment, or perhaps by the side effects you experienced?
These comments will be very helpful to other Beacon readers.
As always, we appreciate your responding to the Beacon's poll questions. The polls are another way that The Beacon seeks to provide valuable information and support to its readers, so your participation in the polls helps us in this important effort.
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Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - VCD/CyBorD
Hi, I had 4 cycles of cybord, predetermined. I got cybord weekly with four weeks on each cycle, and no gaps between cycles. Side effects were manageable with standard antinausea meds, and gaviscon. Some neuropathy but that wasn't too bad until after the SCT. I was diagnosed in April '13 as a stage 1 (age 49), started cybord at the end of May ending in mid september and SCT in mid November. I'm in full stringent remission now and on Revlimid maintenance for the next two years. Hope this helps someone.
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Russell
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - VCD/CyBorD
I had 3 cyles of VDT PACE followed by one cycle of CyBorD to aid in transplant a month later. I had a complete response after my induction phase and before my SCT. Now in full remission and on Revlimid as maintenance indefinitely.
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WeatherNurse13 - Name: Gracie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 10/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - VCD/CyBorD
My dad had Velcade shots and took cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone weekly (four weeks per cycle) for a total of 10 months. He did four cycles, took three weeks for a summer vacation, had stem cells harvested, did six more cycles (three weeks off for the holidays). The only side effect he had was diarrhea the last six weeks.
Now he is doing a year of every other week Velcade injections as maintenance. He has IgD kappa myeloma.
Now he is doing a year of every other week Velcade injections as maintenance. He has IgD kappa myeloma.
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MMdaughter - Name: MMdaughter
- Who do you know with myeloma?: dad
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 67
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - VCD/CyBorD
I have had 3 cycles of VCD on a 21 day cycle, now I have stem cell harvest, then one more cycle of VCD before ASCT, making 4 in all.
This schedule was set by my hematologist apparently in response to the aggressive nature of my myeloma. I am IgG kappa and had multiple lesions on my ribcage and vertebrae after only a short period of pain and weariness, 55% bone marrow involvement, and 4.7 Mspike.
Treatment and response so far has been easy and encouraging, no neuropathy or bowel or digestive issues, just a little trouble with sleeplessness, hiccups and taste changes.
This schedule was set by my hematologist apparently in response to the aggressive nature of my myeloma. I am IgG kappa and had multiple lesions on my ribcage and vertebrae after only a short period of pain and weariness, 55% bone marrow involvement, and 4.7 Mspike.
Treatment and response so far has been easy and encouraging, no neuropathy or bowel or digestive issues, just a little trouble with sleeplessness, hiccups and taste changes.
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MattSchtick - Name: Andy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb27 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - VCD/CyBorD
I received four cycles of CyBorD, each cycle lasting 4 weeks. It was a predetermined number of cycles, in that I was part of a clinical trial, looking at the occurrence and severity of peripheral neuropathy, associated with this particular combination of drugs.
This was in 2008 and I had mostly GI issues, as well as developing the heart issue that had been reported to occur with Velcade exposure. This postponed my planned ASCT from November 2008 to February 2009, as I had to have a stent placed to increase my heart function to a level that made it safe to have the stem cell transplant.
I was then on Revlimid maintenance for 3 years, due to having a high-risk chromosomal abnormality, t(14;16). A bone marrow biopsy done in October 2012 showed I was in complete remission, with flow cytometry showing no evidence of minimal residual disease.
I am still in remission, at this time.
This was in 2008 and I had mostly GI issues, as well as developing the heart issue that had been reported to occur with Velcade exposure. This postponed my planned ASCT from November 2008 to February 2009, as I had to have a stent placed to increase my heart function to a level that made it safe to have the stem cell transplant.
I was then on Revlimid maintenance for 3 years, due to having a high-risk chromosomal abnormality, t(14;16). A bone marrow biopsy done in October 2012 showed I was in complete remission, with flow cytometry showing no evidence of minimal residual disease.
I am still in remission, at this time.
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dnadocaz
6 posts
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