[Beacon Staff]

Weekly Poll - Velcade Maintenance - How Long?

by Beacon Staff on Wed Jul 10, 2013 10:22 am

Welcome to this week's Beacon Weekly Poll. This week’s question is about how long you have been on Velcade maintenance therapy.

As usual, we have a few clarifications:

This question is only for myeloma patients who are currently receiving Velcade (bortezomib) maintenance therapy, with or without dexamethasone (Decadron).

Thus, you should not answer the question if you are on maintenance therapy involving additional anti-myeloma treatments beyond just Velcade and dexamethasone -- for example, Revlimid (lenalidomide).

You may answer the question, however, if, in addition to maintenance therapy with Velcade (with or without dexamethasone), you also are receiving a bisphosphonate such as Aredia (pamidronate) or Zometa (zoledronic acid).

Please note that maintenance therapy is defined as prolonged treatment following one or more initial, usually more intensive, treatment regimens. The goal of maintenance therapy is to prolong survival beyond what might be possible with just the initial therapy.

Once you have answered the question above, please feel free to add whatever comments you feel might be relevant in the discussion below.

Also, you may wish to review the results of these previous Weekly Polls, which also concern maintenance therapy:

Velcade maintenance therapy dose:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/weekly-poll-velcade-maintenance-dosing-schedule-t1531.html

Length of Revlimid maintenance therapy:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/weekly-poll-revlimid-maintenance-how-long-t2041.html

Revlimid maintenance dose:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/weekly-poll-revlimid-maintenance-dose-t1401.html

Current maintenance treatment regimen:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/weekly-poll-current-maintenance-regimen-t1155.html

Quality of life during maintenance therapy:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/weekly-poll-qol-during-maintenance-vs-drug-free-periods-t1868.html

[reppot]

Re: Weekly Poll - Velcade Maintenance - How Long?

by reppot on Wed Jul 10, 2013 1:32 pm

I was on Velcade/Cytoxan/Dex for 9 months weekly chemo. Numbers were getting better so put into remission and chemo every two weeks, Velcade/Dex and Medrol. After 4 months the numbers started to go back up and convinced my dr. to go back on weekly chemo. Numbers continued to go up for 4 months so I have now after a 3 week break gone on Kyprolis/Dex. Just completed my 3rd cycle and numbers have stabalized and decreased slightly so we will see what happens.

[Frankie]

Re: Weekly Poll - Velcade Maintenance - How Long?

by Frankie on Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:15 pm

reppot wrote:
> I was on Velcade/Cytoxan/Dex for 9 months weekly chemo. Numbers were
> getting better so put into remission and chemo every two weeks, Velcade/Dex
> and Medrol. After 4 months the numbers started to go back up and convinced
> my dr. to go back on weekly chemo. Numbers continued to go up for 4 months
> so I have now after a 3 week break gone on Kyprolis/Dex. Just completed my
> 3rd cycle and numbers have stabalized and decreased slightly so we will see
> what happens.


Did you not have a stem cell transplant?

Thanks!

[coryg]

Re: Weekly Poll - Velcade Maintenance - How Long?

by coryg on Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:34 pm

After being on Velcade /Dex for one year my husband's oncologist said his myeloma was under "good control" and put him on a "vacation break' until his numbers start going up again. That was almost 3 months ago. He has lab tests once a month and sees the oncologist every 2 months. So far the numbers look good but I have read that continuous treatment is most effective and wonder why he is not on maintenance therapy rather than just waiting until the disease gets worse. has anyone else had a similar experience with Velcade /Dex?