Pat’s Place: I Want My Money Back!
One week ago, I learned that the autologous stem cell transplant I endured this summer at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, has most likely failed.
What do I mean by “failed?” I entered the hospital with a monoclonal protein (M-spike) reading of 0.2. There was also no trace of myeloma in my bone marrow. Now--100 days later--my M-spike is an alarming 0.5.
My wife Pattie and my doctors were stunned. What percentage of auto transplant patients with extremely low tumor burdens like mine have higher M-protein levels 100 days post-transplant than before the transplant? The physician’s assistant who worked closely with me throughout the transplant process thought “less than 5 percent.”
So let me get this straight. I spent 16 miserable days as an inpatient locked up inside the bone marrow transplant unit, an additional week living in a motel room nearby, and the next two months recovering at home.
All of this at a cost of over $100,000 for a procedure that didn’t work.
Lucky me! My response: “Where do I go to get my money back?”
To be fair, the service was very good. My nurses were attentive. The room was large, brand new and top-notch--with a green, lush vista view.
I even got to go home a full 10 days ahead of schedule.
But good service and plush accommodations don’t mean a thing if a procedure doesn’t work-- making it hard to recommend it to friends and family!
I went into the process with my eyes wide open. I knew there was a chance my stem cell transplant might not work. After all, the median length of time an auto transplant works in a multiple myeloma patient is a short 18 months.
That means one half of all auto transplant patients experience an improvement, then stable disease for at least 18 months. But it also means one half of all recipients achieve a much shorter--or no--response.
But everything I read--and every myeloma expert I spoke to--reassured me I would be in the “better half.”
Why? I am relatively young (55 years old) and healthy. And the fact that I was able to achieve a complete response for over two years placed the odds at over 80 percent that things would turn out well.
Surprise! That’s the look in the eyes of my doctors and staff members after they learned the news.
I had so been looking forward to a few, relatively normal years following my transplant--a drug-free holiday of sorts.
Last week’s test results meant I would need something called consolidation therapy instead. In my case, most likely a repeat of the Revlimid (lenalidomide)/Velcade (bortezomib)/dexamethasone (Decadron) (RVD) combination that my doctors prescribed as pre-transplant induction therapy.
RVD worked before, so chances are it will work again. But reflecting back, it didn’t exactly blow my multiple myeloma away. Instead, it produced an underwhelming response which delayed my transplant start date while we squeezed in a couple of extra three-week treatment cycles.
The good news? Maybe calling my auto transplant a failure is a bit premature. Many have suggested that the 0.5 number could drop on it’s own over time, as the residual effects of my transplant play out.
And the hope is RVD may even work better this time, now that my myeloma is more vulnerable and receptive, post transplant.
Hmm. If that proves to be the case, maybe my transplant wasn’t a failure after all!
Never mind? How about “stay tuned?”
Feel good and keep smiling!
Pat Killingsworth is a multiple myeloma patient and columnist at The Myeloma Beacon.
If you are interested in writing a regular column to be published on The Myeloma Beacon, please contact the Beacon team at .
Pat,
I can only say we relate! Everything at Moffitt was "top notch"...but our transplant was a failure! I am so sorry you have gone through this as well...finacially, physically and emotionally!
Our story and where we have gone for treatment since is known, (MIRT). We wish you all the best and know you will continue your fight against MM and your tremendous blog!
Jodi & Bill Underhill
Right back at you, Jodi. Nice to hear from you! I certainly don't blame Moffitt... I thought the care was actually very good. As long as consolidation works, I guess no harm, no foul. I am not second guessing timing. It was the right thing to do and hindsight is 20/20. Best of luck to you and Bill! Pat
Hi Pat
It's good to see you always looking on the brighter side of things
I am currently undergoing 4 days of chemotherapy before undergoing my second SCT in Brisbane Australia .My first one was on August 10 this year
When I had my first one my M Spike was 1.5 and after 2 weeks only came down to 1.4 so my Dr said it had not worked as well as he has hoped so now I'm going round 2 . I am also young at 40 and am wondering if you are going to consider another STD.
Thanks
Paul Burgess
Australia
Hi Paul-
Good luck with your second SCT. Maybe if yours works, I should try another one. Keep me updated by email, OK?
Hi Pat,
MM is sooo confounding.
Sorry to hear you did not beat the odds. Your disposition is bright and your spirit is still fighting. I am certain better news is in store for you in the coming weeks.
I read your book while in the waiting room at the doctors office. It was very helpful. I always enjoy your writing here too at the Beacon.
Thanks for giving so much back to all of us out here and for keeping us focused on the highs and lows.
Although prayers aren't like getting money back...they are priceless...
May God heal your body and soul.
May your spirit be renewed,
May your strength increase,
May your fears be released,
May blessings, love, and joy surround you.
suzie
Nice to hear from you again, Suzie! Glad I could help you--your kind words sure help me a lot!
Hi Pat -
I am a three-time SCT veteran - my last allo was a "failure." I have great insurance, so I am not bemoaning the money as much as my lack of hair (I lost my hair for nothing!). Certainly sucks, doesn't it!?!?
A shift of 0.2 to 0.5 is concerning, but I don't think it's definitive. 1) There is some variability in the M-spike test. 2) You are only 100 days. It's early yet, and your bone marrow is freshened up - I agree with others who've said it could bring the M-spike down on its own.
Hang in there, and best of luck with your consolidation therapy,
Laura
Thanks, Sean! And Laura... YES! My wife lost her hair ten years ago when she had intensive chemo for ovarian cancer. I think she projects a bit, but I also have what I call a "bumpy ass head!" and don't look good at all without lots of hair to cover everything up.
Sorry about your bad SCT outcome. What's next?
Hi, Pat:
Well, this stinks - you have every right to be upset. I have my prayers said that your outcome will improve with a bit more time.
You know more about MM than any non-medico that I know. And you are a prime example of a warrior. You've been bold and honest in sharing your thoughts, your triumphs and the stumbling blocks of your battle with us. Maybe your coaching days have instilled a 'no quit' attitude in you, but I suspect that you will decide that if Plan A isn't the best answer, then bring on Plan B. I know, easier said than done.
Please know that you are loved by many and in our thoughts.
My M spike didn't really go away until five months. I just checked back in my records to affirm this. Hang in there. We are all pulling for you.
This disease is for $#*@ but we gota' fight it.
Life is good!
Julia
Best wishes to you and your wife, Pat. I think that there is some 'margin of error' on tests anyways, and your counts may shift again. Is this the same measurement that sometimes starts very high and then comes down to close to zero? My 'M' counts were at 58 at time of diagnosis and then fell to 2 or 3 after the induction chemo. I still had a count of about 1 or 2 after the SCT, but after several months of maintenance chemo the counts went to an undetectable level. Just the fact that they fell more than 90% made me happy, but then in retrospect have been on a learning curve the whole time with MM, and there was much I failed to grasp about the illness. I didn't start on any maintenance chemo until 100 days after the end of the SCT, as I recall. This gave me time to rest and recover after the mighty efforts my self had to make to get a whole new blood system. Apparently studies have shown that an SCT still prolongs time to relapse, so is worth doing, even though at the time I did wonder why, since my counts were already very low.
Did you pay for it with an American Express card? They provide a warranty!
But seriously, folks....you've been in the trenches long enough to know how to handle the curve balls so I'm hoping this is neither an emotional or physical set back once things settle down. But, I must admit, as someone on the verge of my initial SCT, I frequently wonder whether the cure is worse than the disease for some of us. Keep us posted on your situation. In addition to the cathartic quality of blogging, you truly do provide a service to the rest of us fellow travelers. Knowing that should help lift your spirits. That and a Badger victory over MSU.
Best
Ed
Hi Pat,
I do feel your frustration as I had visions of grandeur my self of at least a few years without taking meds.
I'm from Australia & had my SCT on the 18th May 2011 & am currently on a trial for Revlimid.
I regard my SCT as being a failure as well since my para-protein levels were 8 just prior to SCT, from 68 in February 2011, then at 100 days they went to 12 in August, 4 in September & October's blood test had a level of 5. Sorry about the numbers but in Australia it's the protein levels as a percentage that are given to patients.
Look Pat, I suppose we can take heart in the fact that it's early days yet since our SCT, and things can still improve. So fingers crossed mate!!!
PS
Absolutely love reading your opinions. Keep it up!!!
Thanks, Julia and Nancy. Unfortunately, just got my M-protein re-test results. Up again to 0.6. Started consolidation therapy yesterday. Wish me luck!
Ed, best of luck to you with yours. I don't have any regrets. I know your situation from reading your blog. Timing sounds good for you, too...
Lots of Australian readers, Boz. I don't understand your measuring system, but up is up, right? Or is it like the water spinning in a toilet when it's flushed--spins one way "up here" and the opposite "down there?"
Lori, I received my melphalan dose over two days--then waited a day for my stem cells to be infused--by the book. I understand docs are trying different/additional high dose chemo now, pre-transplant. Worth a look for next time--if there is a next time! Pat
Not all SCT are the same. The transplant itself is the salvage therapy after the high dose chemotherapy. So it really boils down to the drugs used in that process, their combination, their dosing that are the focus at issue. Goes to the one size fits all approach that facilities are more and more re-thinking. So diagnostics in each person's presentation is vitally important in determining which regimen has been shown to work best. It doesn't take away from the frustration. I initially thought a SCT is a SCT is a SCT. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Ask your doc how the chemo drugs they used compare with Dana, Arkansas, Huntsman, Mayo & MD Anderson. Were they exactly the same, or how were they different?
"Practicing" medicine. That's the truth of it.
Hang in Pat.
Pat,
It's been very enlightening to read your blogs. Really educational. Sorry that the numbers aren't what you hoped for,but I do know of someone who didn't achieve CR. But his numbers did continue to trend downward for quite a while.
You are brave and an inspiration to us all
Christina
Sorry to hear your misfortune with your SCT, as I too had a failure with mine. Before SCT, my protien marker got down to 1.2 and 100 days post transplant still was 1.2. I felt defeated for a while, since it seemed such a waste of time and loss of my hair. The transplant was Dec 3, 2010, and my protein level at the beginning of Oct 2011 just started to increase to 1.6, and I was not on any kind of chemo or meds since that time. I really feel great even though my MM is slowly creeping up again. I just recently started the Velcade and have had the first cycle of 4 doses. Next week I find out the results and am very hopeful that maybe I can get by with maybe getting the injections once every other week on maintennace. Best part is that I wasn't getting any chemo for almost 10 months after transplant. Pray you do as well also. Take care and keep the faith.
Pat:
I am sorry you have been so disappointed when your transplant failed. Your story is much like mine. I had an AUTO back in 2006 when I was 55. It was particularly frustrating for me since it had taken three years since diagnosis trying to get my numbers low enough before I could even attempt the transplant. I found out it failed about weeks after I did my sixteen days in the hospital.
However, the news is NOT bad. It has been FIVE years after all since the transplant and I am still here. Current I am undergoing a Phase 1 two-drug trial - the ever-popular Velcade and Tanespimycin. I have been on this regimen for almost four years. My numbers are low (M-spike of 1.6 currently) and stable.
So, bottom line, the future is not bleak. Hang in there - yo have a long way to go.
Good luck.
Thanks, Christina!
Hi Rose-
Unfortunately, I started chemo last night. Glad you did a bit better.
Five years, Paul? That's great! Works for me...
Boz, I am in Australia too and yes we do seem to measure the M protein in a different way. Mine was 60 at diagnosis; fell to 4 after induction therapy then after SCT rose to 7 at at 21 days, then fell again reaching 2 at 100 days, then 1 a month later. I am undergoing second SCT transplant right now,in fact the transfusion just finished! I am interested to hear that you have not done a second SCT going for Revlimid instead. Any particular reasons for that?
Pat,
I'm almost your age (54), I had my SCT back in Feb. 2011 at Mass General in Boston, left home (20 minutes away) after 14 days in the bubble without any complications, and spent about a week at home before going back to work.
I've been on Revlimid (10mg), 21 day cycle ever since, so far so good, everything is normal, and to tell you the truth, I've never felt better in my life.
But the story that I want to tell you, is that I met a lady last week, she's 67 years old, had the SCT when she was 60, and she's been cancer free for 7 years.
Hopefully this story lifts your spirit like it lifted mine.
Wish you luck.
Hi Pat,
I was so sorry to hear that your auto transplant may have failed to have the desired effect. I really hope the rise was just a 'hiccup' in the lab system and that your M-spike will still drop.
Reading your column, I was a bit puzzled by the values (0.5, 0.6) you stated. Apparently we have a different system and I have now learnt from our Australian antipodes, Boz and Michael, that they use the same system down under as we do, in the Netherlands.
After two Auto transplants (within 3 years) my husband's protein levels started to crawl up again. The only 100% donor that had been found withdrew for unknown reasons. We were devastated now that the allogenic transplant was no longer available, but didn't give up. This year he was put on a course of weekly treatments with Velcade in combination with Revlimide and Prednisone, which, unfortunately, also failed to deliver the desired effect. They ceased the 40-week treatment after 14 weeks as his protein kept rising (26 now). We're now looking into other options because the 'regular' drug regimes don't seem to work for him. But there are so many other combinations and options, and new drugs on the horizon. So we're not giving up! He has now been offered a 1/2 phase trial with HuMax-CD38. Is there anybody in our world-wide forum who knows a bit more about this trial?
Regards,
Lia
Hey Michael, don't forget to keep me updated on how you are doing... Stay ahead of that nausea--the only part of the process which makes it almost unthinkable for me to go through a second SCT.
So glad you are doing well, Sam! Yes! It does help me feel better. Thank you!
Lia-
Guess the only thing that is important with these numbers is which way they are trending--up or down. So sorry that your husband isn't responding well. I think I understand how you feel! Did you say that you are in the Netherlands? HuMax-CD38 is an experimental antibody, first studied in Denmark in 2005. Preclinical testing (not on humans) looked very promising. It is a IfGik antibody that targets the CD38 molecule on the surface of myeloma tumors. I haven't heard much about it recently. Maybe funding issues? I will look into this and run something on my MyelomaNews.US site this morning.
Hey, whatever works, right? I'm not familiar with what drugs are available there that are or aren't available here in the United States. For example, is carfilzomib going to be available there?
Best of luck to you both. This is SO HARD...
I have my 5 week check up today to check my M protein levels again, along with other blood work results. I will let you know how it goes. Keeping positive and fighting the good fight.
Nelson
Lia-
Here are links to two press releases about your husband's study:
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=160258
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/genmabs-humax-cd38-enters-phase-iii-clinical-trial-for-multiple-myeloma-58624952.html
Nelson-
I hope that you get wonderful results from your blood work! I will keep fighting!
Hi Pat,
I have followed your progress as well since my husband went through a stem cell transplant in March of 2011. He was diagnosed with MM in July of 2010 (he just turned 63 but is a very youthful 63) and after induction therapy his protein level was reduced from 1.5 at time of diagnosis to "trace." It never went lower than that but like you his tumor burden was very low, he has standard risk MM and he responded very well to the Rev./dex therapy. Going into the SCT his bone marrow was also clear so it never occurred to us that his outcome would be anything but great! Silly us! He had his transplant in California (we live in New Mexico), his care was great and the transplant proceeded without complications. Before we left CA to travel home at 6 wks. his M-protein was .1 and it continued inching up until at 100 days it was at .3! I can so identify to how you and Patti felt. Long story short, he was started back on Revlimid (15 mg.) and Dex (20mg.) and so far the side effects have been manageable and over all is feeling very well At his first local oncology appt. after starting consolidation (I didn't even know that was what it was called!?) his protein level is at 0 and has remained there since July. I'm sure you will have a good outcome also - and while I'm sorry you didn't get the desired result, it is comforting to know that we are not the only ones who had this experience. Charisse
That is encouraging. One could argue (if it makes us feel better!)that in fact, the transplant worked, softening up the myeloma for consolidation.
I'm guessing--hoping you are right and I will receive the same outcome. Since I have been on and off Revlimid for almost five years, hopefully Velcade does the same for me that Revlimid is doing for your husband. Thanks for reading--and the encouragement!
Well I just got back. I am still at zero M-Protein and my other blood work still looks good. I am even showing no anemia anymore for the first time since 2008. So far so good. Now I am back on my Revlimid for 14 days and I will see my oncologist again in 5 weeks to do this process all over again. Today I feel great.
Fantastic, Nelson! So happy to hear that...
Lori
Great feedback!!
Thanks
Paul,
AWESOME news!!
Thanks for that...gives me hope.
Hi Pat,
I don't know if this is of any use but I read an article in Lab Medicine which basically said that the free light assay is more predicative and reliable than M spike.
Excerpt quote:
"The serum free light chain assays may prove more reliable than 24-hour urine m-spike determinations in some patients with measurable urinary paraprotein. Siegel and colleagues described a series of patients in which a commercial reference laboratory erroneously reported urine protein electrophoretic results showing evidence of progression of disease when in fact there was no significant change in status. Serum free light chain assays done in parallel were not subject to the same variance avoiding potentially catastrophic errors in management.27"
Don't know if this information could be of use to you...but thought I would share it just in case it may be.
http://labmed.ascpjournals.org/content/40/6/363.full
Hi Michael,
The reason that I'm on Revlimid is that I signed up for a trial in Victoria just prior to my SCT. At the moment things are stable but my hematologist has already stated to me that he won't hesitate to pull the pin on the trial if my counts don't improve.
When did you have your 1st SCT Michael? It would be interesting to see what time frame that you had between 1st and 2nd.
Best of luck with your second SCT mate. Hope it all works out for you!!!
Sam it is great to hear your good story, unfortunately we always hear about the bad stories which puts us all on edge. So hearing more good stories is a great help to boost our confidence.
I'm SO sorry to hear of your test results to date, Pat. I am one month out from my ASCT (Sept 22), and I know how *I* would feel with results like that. As to your comment in response up above: yeah, the nausea is the worst. Still fighting it here.
Keep the faith, friend. There's more than one trail to the top of this mountain.
Hi Suzie-
For some reason, M-spike for me is only reliable test. All other results totally normal. Weird, I know...
And thanks, John--I would hope and expect your results will be much better!
Thanks for the feedback, Pat!
Lia
Hi Pat, Sorry to hear about your SCT. But hopefully it has "softened" up the mm cells and your next move will be successful.
Pardon me if I'm wrong, but a "failed" SCT only means your mm didn't respond well to melphalan.
For my second SCT, they added Velcade to the melphalan and...that was just 5 weeks ago.
If I'm still not at undetectable levels, I might be getting another VDPACE right away. But in the meantime, I've already started maintenance Revlimid.
Good luck to you and thank you very much for your thought provoking articles.
Pat,
I just underwent my second SCT. I am part of BMT 0702.Will not restage for another 3 weeks (so can't say yet how I am doing) at which time I will take Revlemid for another 3 yrs (hopefully!).
Anyway, the reson I wrote was that in the middle and shortly after my first SCT, I swore I would drop out of the study because I could not take another SCT episode. After 2 months, it was like having a baby...you forget the agony! I did do the second one and it was NOTHING, let me repeat, NOTHING like the first. It started off worse (got sick right away), but then the nausea subsided fast, I did not get the horrible throat sores, and needed no platelet transfusion. SO if you need a second one, don't let the experience of the first be the only consideration.
Diane
OOPS...my husband said I did get one platelet transfusion on the second SCT...SEE..it was so much better I forgot that!
Diane
I have heard the second is often easier than the first. You also have an advantage knowing what to expect. For example, I would hold my nose and drink two or three of those "Boost" drinks a day, no matter how much I didn't want to. Lost seven or eight pounds of muscle last time, and just starting to get back to where I was before. One reason I was bummed about resuming RVD--it is hard or impossible to gain muscle mass--at least for me on Revlimid. Dex doesn't help, either--it breaks muscle down. I don't see another SCT in my near future. Now exotic drug combos, that's another story!
Pat...wishing you continued good health.
Cathy @ Moffitt Diversity.
Thanks, Cathy! Keep up the great work, helping to provide the minority community with the best cancer care available...
Hi Pat,
This is a question asked out of ignorance, but couldn't there be some way, pre-transplant, to know if someone's MM is going to respond to melphalan? Maybe it could be tried in lower doses pre-transplant and the result observed (especially if cells have already been collected), or possibly there could be a lab assay using cells collected through a bone marrow biopsy. It just seems that we shouldn't always have to be human guinea pigs.
Interesting idea, Holt. Everything looked promising for me going in, but no one ever suggested testing effectiveness of melphalan...
Holt,
I agree with you. I want their to be plasma cell testing prior to chemotherapy as well as transplant.
I read recently that they can take your own stem cells and put them in a dish and they will grow your aberrant plasma cells...which could then be tested to see what drugs they are resistant to..as well as responsive to.
This technique is used to try out efficacy of new drugs..not use on individualized basis for patients.
I think us decreasing the shot gun approach is definitely something the IMF should be pushing for and so should we patients.
Pat,
Did Boost really help you maintain muscle mass on dexamethasone? Or did you simply maintain your weight?
I referenced Boost because I didn't use supplements enough while I was recovering. That may have helped.
As far as maintaining muscle mass on dex, my plan (unproven and untested!) is to lift more weight and eat/drink a lot more protein. I won't go "down" without a fight!
HI Pat,
I didn't see whether you discussed cytogenetics or not but I did find this excerpt in Bone Marrow Transplantation magazine entitled Genetic Risk identifies MM patients who do not benefit from ASCT:
"In our proposed FISH-based classification model, patients with no genetic abnormality or only t(11;14) have the best clinical outcome, and patients with only one adverse genetic abnormality have a better outcome than patients with two or more adverse genetic abnormalities. Our data add to the knowledge of prognostic factors for MM and assists in the selection of patients for referral for ASCT as some have a very poor prognosis even undergoing this costly and not entirely risk-free procedure."
http://www.nature.com/bmt/journal/v36/n9/full/1705131a.html
The author says these MM patients should be offered alternative"innovative" therapies.
I'm familiar with this. I am a low risk patient, with no chromosomal abnormalities. Lot of good that did me!
Wow Pat!
Well at least you don't have those nasty chromosomes working against you.
You are probably going to come through in flying colors as soon as your immune system starts
getting up to full speed.
I presumed you might have been familiar with the data...but it may be news to others of us.
Your blessings are right around the corner.
Just keep on acting on your will and not only emotions. Sometimes that means you may have to take steps
of faith when you are hurting, confounded or still reeling from not getting your money back!
Just keep that Victor mentality strong and watch what God begins to do.
Enjoy your nite.
Suzierose,
Thanks for the excellent points, and I completely agree that we should all be advocating for more personalized treatment, especially where the technology is already available.
Patients who start out low risk with no chromosome abnormalities can progress into high risk and have chromosome abnormalities. This is why it can become very important to understand that during a relapse situation you need to do MRI, PET, BMB, GEP (if at a big researching facility like UAMS and Huntsman), Bone Density, etc., to "re-stage" your diagnosis. What you understood about your disease going in is no longer valid, generally, once a relapse has occurred. Finding drugs that MM will respond to, in combination with others, is the new game with relapsed patients who are no longer in the low risk category. There is a wonderful presentation with a Q&A in Boca Raton earlier this year where this is discussed.
Individualized dosing and disease analysis is the wave of the future... Based on Lori's comments, sounds like there are things we can do to help bring the future closer. Thanks, Lori!
My husband also had very little improvement from his first autologus stem cell so they did a tandem transplant which has worked well though a year later he is still somewhat weak.
I'm glad that worked for him... I'm going to skip that option and try different drug combos. Whatever works!
Hi Suzie,
I am one of those low risk MM patients (chromosomally speaking). After I didn't respond real well to several therapies, I asked the doctor about my risk factors. He said "well, you have low risk chromosome makeup, however the proof is in the pudding". I never muttered "proof is in the pudding" more than after that appointment.
At first I thought maybe he was referring to another BMB--sort of a gross way to couch it I thought...marrow=pudding?? Then I realized he was using the term as in "you're responding like a high risk patient".
However the melphalan worked for me, unlike all of the other "stuff". No Complete remission, but a pretty good response.
Good for you, Stan! At least I know not to rush out and try melphalan/prednisone as a therapy combo!
Ahhhh Stan!!
Thanks for making me LOL... I love it "muttered proof in pudding" ..is marrow pudding now? lmbo!!
Your humor is infectious. Just what I need too...I started my first dose this pass Thurs/ Fri...no longer inpatient..
I am on the road of cycling...dose 3 coming up on Thurs.
You made my Saturday!!
thank you
Well of course you're frustrated! I would be too. While I doubt you're getting money back (you could get some though) because no treatment works for all people, your frustration is truly understandable.
Wishing you luck trying alternative therapies!
Thanks, Lynne! Just kidding about the "money back thing," of course...
Pat,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I need an urgent clarification - my dad is preparing for a stem cell transplant and is undergoing when his m-spike or m-band value is 0.77 g/dl. You underwent at 0.2. Is there a threshold value which needs to be considered for an effective auto transplant? Appreciate an urgent response. Do you think 0.77 is a high value and a chemo therapy cycle be induced before undergoing a transplant.
Background on his myeloma treatment - Diagnosed in Jun 2011. Got IgG Kappa light chain. Received 4 cycles of VTD. M-spike value came to 0 after 4 cycles. After two months, preparing for stem cell transplant - got test done, m-spike value is at 0.77. So does it mean that he has relapsed and remission period for only for 2 months?
Regards,
Mohit
Progress toward fundraising goal
for all of 2020:
15%
For more information, see the Beacon's
"2020 Fundraising: Goals And Updates" page