Results of a recently published study show that a steroid-free regimen of Velcade and thalidomide is effective in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.

This finding is particularly significant for patients who are unable to tolerate treatment with steroids due to their side effects, according to the study’s lead author Dr. Ivan Borello from the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore,

“The purpose of this study was to develop a therapy that could be used for patients in …

Last week I shared a list of questions all multiple myeloma patients should consider.

Let's cover the first question this week: “How carefully should a patient be tracking and following their numbers?”

There is no right or wrong answer here. What is important is you begin to understand which numbers are important. This varies from patient to patient.

Lab (blood work) reports can be overwhelming! Ask your nurse or doctor to point out the important numbers.

For example, creatinine levels …

The results of a recent Japanese study suggest that a vincristine-doxorubicin-dexamethasone regimen without intermittent high-dose dexamethasone reduces the risk of bacterial infection in multiple myeloma patients without affecting the treatment’s efficacy. 

Based on these findings, the study authors recommended avoiding the administration of intermittent high-dose dexamethasone with the vincristine-doxorubicin-dexamethasone regimen in myeloma patients at high risk for infection. 

The combination treatment of vincristine (Oncovin), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and dexamethasone (Decadron) plus high-dose pulses of dexamethasone (referred to as …

A friend recently mentioned that her new task in life is to ask for the impossible. This idea captured my imagination because so much of living with multiple myeloma is about asking for the best possible outcomes that often feel impossible. Each case of myeloma is so individual, as evidenced by the variety of stories I have read here on The Myeloma Beacon.

Storytelling seems to be a natural reaction to illness. Writing about our experiences may even raise our …

Results of a recent Canadian study show that the use of novel agents, particularly Velcade and Revlimid, as salvage therapy after stem cell transplantation improves overall survival and post-relapse survival of multiple myeloma patients, including high-risk patients who relapsed early following transplantation.

Although multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease, the introduction of novel agents, such as thalidomide (Thalomid), Velcade (bortezomib), and Revlimid (lenalidomide) has lead to significant improvements in disease outcomes.

In their analysis, the Canadian researchers …

I had been experiencing mild, intermittent pain in my right hip and femur for months. About ten days ago, the pain became acute—so much so I could barely walk.

Although it has improved some since, my wife Pattie insisted I move up my scheduled quarterly visit to Moffitt Cancer Center and get it checked out. I'm so glad I did!

An examination and subsequent MRI showed probable myeloma-related activity in my hip and fluid in my hip joint that will …

Multiple myeloma patients who continued Revlimid treatment after achieving at least a partial response experienced significantly higher overall survival compared to patients who discontinued treatment, according to a recent study published in the journal Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma, & Leukemia.

However, the study authors noted that proper management of side effects is necessary for patients to achieve the survival benefit.

Two previous Phase 3 trials showed that Revlimid (lenalidomide) plus dexamethasone (Decadron) improved overall survival more than dexamethasone …