[Beacon Staff]

Weekly Poll - IV or Subcutaneous Velcade? - 2011

by Beacon Staff on Wed Nov 23, 2011 2:22 pm

It's Wednesday, so it's time to dive into the new Weekly Poll here at The Beacon.

This week's question focuses on how Velcade (bortezomib) is administered to myeloma patients being treated with the drug.

A few clarifications:

First, this question is only for readers who have been treated with Velcade at some point during the past three months.

If you were treated with Velcade in the past but the treatment stopped more than 3 months ago, you should not answer this question.

Second, if you are a caregiver or family member of a myeloma patient who has been treated with Velcade in the past three months, feel free to answer on their behalf.

Third, Velcade administered intravenously is sometimes called "IV Velcade"; when it's administered subcutaneously, it's sometimes called "Sub-Q Velcade" or "Sub-Cu Velcade."

As always, feel free to post comments, thoughts, or feedback in the space below. They can be very useful to other readers (whether for information or just entertainment purposes).

[Rose Ann]

Re: Weekly Poll - IV or Subcutaneous Velcade?

by Rose Ann on Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:06 pm

I just started on Velcade a couple of months ago and was hoping to get the SubQ but low and behold Medicare stepped in and would not authorize it so I had to get the IV. I don't have very good veins and it is a pain. Can't understand why the government steps in and doesn't like any progress on better forms of treatment. I just got on medicare in July of this year.

[Mama4242]

Re: Weekly Poll - IV or Subcutaneous Velcade?

by Mama4242 on Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:59 pm

My husband has been on maintenance with Velcade four months. His first few treatments with Velcade were given Sub-Q. Then he started having local reactions. When given in the fatty part of his arm, it became very red and inflamed. The area affected was at least six inches all around. Ultimately his arm peeled. It was nasty looking. The doctor said to only get Sub-Q in the stomach after that. The first time there was no reaction. Then, it too had a local reaction, although it was not nearly as severe as the one in the arm. He also had some nausea and diarrhea with the Sub-Q. He is now taking the Velcade IV, and so far just being tired is the only reaction. The first three months he took Dexamethasone and Thalidomide with the Velcade. This month the doctor switched him to Revlimid with the Dex and Velcade. I am interested to see if anyone else has experienced this same problem. Incidentally, he is on Medicare and it does pay for the Sub-Q.

[mlweezieclark@yahoo.com]

Re: Weekly Poll - IV or Subcutaneous Velcade?

by mlweezieclark@yahoo.com on Thu Nov 24, 2011 7:39 pm

in nov 2009 started had Velcade iv Nov 2011 now on same regiment but getting subcutaneous Velcade. So much better easier faster no side effects in just finished 2nd month 3 weeks on 1 week off. Quality of life great once I worked through the grieving process and getting acquainted and understanding the new normal. complete response 2 months with a extra two for longer remission. Second time treatment numbers are falling. Getting use to ups and downs of the treatment RVD choosing quality of life stem cell transplant option but I like less is more right now. IGA lambda stage 111 discovered on my yearly physical thank God for the yearly physical.

[AngieS]

Re: Weekly Poll - IV or Subcutaneous Velcade?

by AngieS on Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:23 am

I was given both forms, and observed no difference. No additional or other side effects, just small bruising in the gut. That was no different from getting a heparin shot. It sure saved time, though. It cut a good hour or more from my treatment time, getting out of there faster, and freeing up a bed in the infusion center faster.

[vickiandpaulkiser]

Re: Weekly Poll - IV or Subcutaneous Velcade?

by vickiandpaulkiser on Tue Nov 29, 2011 5:49 pm

My husband had IV Velcade 3 yrs ago. It really knocked down his multiple myeloma numbers...however, after 3 months, he developed neuropathy so badly in his feet that he had to get off of it. His neuropathy intensity went down, but it never fully went away. He was so disappointed as that was his only reaction. Since May of this year, he has been on SubQ Velcade and takes 10 Cytoxan pills with it. He likes the treatments, as they are easy except for the 6 hrs of driving to and from the cancer center. Even though there is suppose to be less chance of neuropathy, his has now become more intense again! So, this cycle instead of 3 weeks on with one week off, they are trying 2 on and 2 off. They had already decreased the amount, so now they are trying a different time frame, as he really wants to stay on the treatment. For those of you who wrote about the reaction around the site, he gets his in his gut, and sometimes he gets a big red ring around the injection and sometimes he doesn't, but he just deals with it, and rubs a little Neosporin on it if it peels, as he doesn't want to keep picking at it. Also, Medicare has never given him any hassle about Velcade...I am sorry for those of you who have to deal with that issue too! If you are just beginning with the SubQ, good luck! My husband has made it 6 yrs. in Dec., and this is the 10th type of treatment he has had. He has no bone or kidney issues, so we feel quite blessed...as first oncologist said he'd make it 4 months. =)

[Lisa B.]

Re: Weekly Poll - IV or Subcutaneous Velcade?

by Lisa B. on Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:50 pm

Dear Vicki,

I am sorry about your husband's neuropathy, but aside from that, what a wonderful and inspiring survival story!! It just reinforces what I choose to believe ... as Jay Gould (20 yr survivor of abdominal mesothelioma - an extremely aggressive cancer with "median" survival 8 months) wrote, "The Median Isn't the Message" http://cancerguide.org/median_not_msg.html
A little faith and hope combined with good doctors and a variety of treatment options can go a long way!

[psimoneau]

Re: Weekly Poll - IV or Subcutaneous Velcade?

by psimoneau on Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:28 pm

I was diagnosed Dec 8, 2008 with IgA Lambda multiple myeloma and began IV Velcade shortly after that. In the middle of my third cycle, I had a severe (level 4) reaction that had me in hospitals for the next 30 days.
This Summer, my IgA count was 3817 and climbing in spite of all clinical trial attempts. My oncologist gave me subcutaneous Velcade and I am now in complete remission for three months.

Paul

[mbrat2006]

Re: Weekly Poll - IV or Subcutaneous Velcade?

by mbrat2006 on Wed May 01, 2013 6:56 pm

I was treated with Velcate through my port for 6 months however I have been treated with a shot now for the last 3 times since I have been experiencing neuropothy in my legs and feet.