Results of a recent Italian study suggest that a combination of Velcade and dexamethasone is a safe and effective form of maintenance therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients who responded to Velcade-containing rescue regimens.

“Our study showed that maintenance therapy with Velcade in relapsed / refractory multiple myeloma patients may improve the progression-free survival and overall survival of patients with a low grade of toxicity,” Dr. Giulia Benevolo, lead author of the study, told The Myeloma Beacon.

“[However], this is …

For three years after my myeloma diagnosis and initial treatment in 2006, I continued to work a fairly full schedule as an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, seeing patients three days a week and doing surgery two days.  However, by design, my days were not nearly as full as before I had gotten sick. 

As I mentioned in my last post, after relapsing on Revlimid (lenalidomide) / dexamethasone (Decadron) two years ago, I started treatment with Velcade …

If you didn’t read Sean’s Burgundy Thread: Myeloma & Shiny Yellow Volkswagens, do not let another minute pass before you do.  Sean did a far better job than I did in Me & My Big Mouth of bringing light to multiple myeloma versus the “common cancers,” with terrific evidence of what I alluded to – once you are in the multiple myeloma family, suddenly you find out there are a number of people you know who are, too!

Sean’s column …

Results of a recent study indicate that obesity does not negatively affect outcomes after stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients. In fact, obese patients treated with high-dose melphalan-based chemotherapy and total body irradiation before transplantation had a lower risk of relapse and better overall survival, compared to normal-weight patients.

The study authors concluded that obese multiple myeloma patients should not be excluded from stem cell transplantation due to their weight.

“Obese patients don't seem to be at higher risk for severe …

As my regular readers know, I am in the midst of my first stem cell transplant to treat my myeloma.

I don’t care how many doctors say this is a “tolerable” procedure--it isn’t any fun.

I am nauseous constantly, tired as my blood counts crash, and battling to keep diarrhea and mouth sores at bay.

But I’m always looking for a positive spin or silver linings as I wait for my stem cells to engraft.

For example, when I learned …

Results of a recent Phase 2 study indicate that a steroid-free regimen of Velcade, Doxil, and thalidomide is effective in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.

“The most novel aspect [of the study] is that high response rates and effective disease control can be achieved without the use of [the corticosteroid] dexamethasone,” said Dr. Asher Chanan-Khan, one of the study’s investigators and a researcher at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York.

“The development of such a regimen is …

Here’s a question you’ve probably never seen: How is multiple myeloma like a yellow Volkswagen Beetle? Read on! 

I will never forget the day that I was unceremoniously plunged into the perplexing world of multiple myeloma.

It was an early afternoon in mid November 2008, and I was at home with a backache that I couldn’t seem to get rid of.  My phone rang, and in his stoic, matter-of-fact tone, my family doctor said that my severe pains were not …