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 two-drug combination of Velcade and dexamethasone (Vd/VD) 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), Revlimid-Velcade-dexamethasone (RVD, VRD), or Velcade-cyclosphosphamide (Cytoxan)-dexamethasone (VCD, CyBorD).
A few clarifications:
First, please answer this poll question only if your initial therapy after diagnosis included only Velcade and dex as anti-myeloma agents.
If your regimen also included Revlimid, please respond to the poll for that three-drug regimen. If your regimen also include cyclophosphamide, please response to the poll for that three-drug regimen. If your regimen included something other than Revlimid or cyclophosphamide in addition to Velcade and dex, or if it included only Velcade (without 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 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 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 with Velcade and dex 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-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.
Forums
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - Vd/VD - 2014
I voted, but I didn't have dex. I did however have a steroid, prednisone, in place of it. I don't know why, but I was 70 at the time and had serious kidney problems from the light chains, which required dialysis.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - Vd/VD - 2014
I had four cycles of Velcade plus dex in 2009. It brought my 'M' protein down from 59 g/l to about 3 g/l. I think that was a VGPR. i was really impressed by how well the Velcade worked!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - Vd/VD - 2014
I didn't have cycles. I had dex and sq Velcade once a week for 8 months and have continued on Velcade bi-weekly since Dec 2011. So far so good. It's not showed up since! I'm very blessed!
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Joni B
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - Vd/VD - 2014
After 4 cycles, immunoglobulins were back to normal. That was about 9 months ago. However, lambda free light chains are skyrocketing now, and IgA is back out of normal range and I expect my Moffitt doctor will put me on Revlimid-dex when I see him on 2 Jun and have a quarterly Zometa treatment (the first of which was tougher on me than the prior Velcade-Dex treatments).
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Don Hardy
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - Vd/VD - 2014
My husband has received 13 Velcade/decadron combo treatments so far. His normal course is 2 weeks on, and 1 week off. Is that considered a cycle? If so, I've answered incorrectly to the poll question.
Thanks, Pam
Thanks, Pam
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - Vd/VD - 2014
Thanks for your question, Pam.
In your husband's case, the cycle length is three weeks -- 2 weeks on treatment, plus a week off.
If you get a chance, please tell us what your incorrect answer was (if you made one), and we will adjust the numbers.
If your husband is still receiving treatment, please answer the poll with how many cycles his doctors plan or expect to have him be treated with the Velcade-dex.
Best of luck to you and your husband.
In your husband's case, the cycle length is three weeks -- 2 weeks on treatment, plus a week off.
If you get a chance, please tell us what your incorrect answer was (if you made one), and we will adjust the numbers.
If your husband is still receiving treatment, please answer the poll with how many cycles his doctors plan or expect to have him be treated with the Velcade-dex.
Best of luck to you and your husband.
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - Vd/VD - 2014
Beacon Staff wrote:Thanks for your question, Pam.
In your husband's case, the cycle length is three weeks -- 2 weeks on treatment, plus a week off.
If you get a chance, please tell us what your incorrect answer was (if you made one), and we will adjust the numbers.
If your husband is still receiving treatment, please answer the poll with how many cycles his doctors plan or expect to have him be treated with the Velcade-dex.
Best of luck to you and your husband.
Hi,
I believe I answered 13 cycles.Thanks so much for clarifying things. I will go back and re-enter my vote.
Pam Pellegrom
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - Vd/VD - 2014
Beacon Staff wrote:Thanks for your question, Pam.
In your husband's case, the cycle length is three weeks -- 2 weeks on treatment, plus a week off.
If you get a chance, please tell us what your incorrect answer was (if you made one), and we will adjust the numbers.
If your husband is still receiving treatment, please answer the poll with how many cycles his doctors plan or expect to have him be treated with the Velcade-dex.
Best of luck to you and your husband.
Hi,
I have no idea how many cycles his oncologist is recommending for treatment. I heard from someone other than the doctor that 8 cycles is a good number, for starters. Up until 6 weeks ago, he was receiving 2 treatments per week, but his bilirubin levels were elevating, so chemo was discontinued until the levels became more stabilized. Three weeks ago we resumed once a week treatments, still taking the third week off. The doctor felt my husband would tolerate the Velcade better under this regimen. His bilirubin levels have stabilized, so I hope that continues. His M protein levels continue to come down, although not as dramatically as before. Right now, we are very grateful how things are progressing.
Pam Pellegrom
Re: Weekly Poll - Cycles Of Initial Therapy - Vd/VD - 2014
I received six cycles of Velcade and Decadron. The number of cycles was determined by my doctor after following my response to treatment. He told me in advance it would most likely be six or eight. I received my initial treatment beginning in July 2010. I remain in remission at present, with my biopsy numbers dropping from 75 to 15 per cent.
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Marcia K
13 posts
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