[Beacon Staff]

Weekly Poll - Initial Myeloma Therapy - AUSTRALIA - 2015

by Beacon Staff on Thu May 21, 2015 11:18 pm

This week’s poll topic is about what your initial myeloma therapy was upon your diagnosis. We are asking a series of these questions, one for each of several different countries.

A few clarifications:

First, this particular poll question is for residents of AUSTRALIA only. (Other polls for other countries are coming soon!)

Second, please answer this poll only if you have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma within the last two years.

Third, initial therapy is frequently called induction therapy. It does not matter for this question whether you proceeded to have a stem cell transplant after the initial therapy.

Fourth, if you are a caregiver or family member of a myeloma patient, feel free to answer on their behalf.

Fifth, if you received a therapy that is not included in the list above, please use the space below to describe it.

As always, feel free to post comments, thoughts, or feedback in the space below. They can be very useful to other readers.

[DaveMac]

Re: Weekly Poll - Initial Myeloma Therapy - AUSTRALIA - 2015

by DaveMac on Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:08 pm

On New Year's Eve 2013, I was diagnosed with plasmacytoma tumour in the right sacrum with lesions spreading throughout the spine. The tumour was judged to be extremely aggressive so no time was wasted in implementing treatment.I had immediate radiotherapy for 2-3 weeks. Then I began induction therapy with Velcade, dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide for four cycles of 28 days. I then proceeded to stem cell transplant in July 2014.This had a good result with the latest scans revealing no active myeloma cells. At this point I do not require maintenance chemotherapy. I am still slightly anaemic with a lack of stamina. My difficulty now is that disease progression can only be monitored through scans as no secretions are evident in blood tests. On a daily basis, I still suffer peripheral neuropathy and nerve damage from the tumour.

[stu1975]

Re: Weekly Poll - Initial Myeloma Therapy - AUSTRALIA - 2015

by stu1975 on Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:44 pm

Hi Dave,

My situation is very similar to yours re: tumors and treatment. However, I'm just about to have my last week of dex, Velcade, and Cytoxan. Do you know if the peripheral neuropathy was from the tumors or the Velcade? As I've just had my last couple of Velcade doses reduced by 30% to try and reduce my PN symptoms.

Just wondering what to expect post ASCT in January.

How are you doing these days?

Regards,
Stu