In a recent study, Spanish researchers found that oral busulfan increased progression-free survival following stem cell transplant in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients compared to melphalan. However, there was no difference in overall survival between the two treatments.  Furthermore, oral busulfan treatment was associated with an increased risk of death due to the drug’s side effects.

The current standard of care for multiple myeloma patients under the age of 65 is treatment with high dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell …

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, an organization that decides which treatments will be made available under the state-funded National Health Service in the United Kingdom, recommended thalidomide as a first line of treatment for multiple myeloma patients in a draft guidance published August 26. Velcade was also recommended as a first line of treatment, but only for patients unable to tolerate thalidomide.

This draft guidance follows a previous draft published by the National Institute for Health and …

This article is the first in a two-part series about nutrition for multiple myeloma patients. This article provides an introduction to nutrition for cancer patients as well as tips for getting the right nutrition. The second article describes sources and amounts of nutrients that are important for myeloma patients.

Healthy eating can help people with multiple myeloma heal faster, feel more energetic, respond better to treatment, and protect a …

I want to thank all of the readers who took the time to pass along helpful tips for staying positive last week.

Keeping a positive attitude in the face of a cancer diagnosis and treatment isn’t easy. But a positive attitude is the cornerstone of improving any patient’s quality of life during treatment.

Enough with the general, philosophical stuff! Here are a few practical suggestions to help multiple myeloma patients and caregivers make it through their day:

Keep moving. Go …

The results of a recent study suggest that although the chromosomal abnormalities t(4;14) and del(17p) are associated with poor prognoses in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients, Velcade-dexamethasone therapy improved survival among patients with t(4;14) compared to treatment with vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone.

However, patients with the t(4;14) abnormality did not respond as well to Velcade and dexamethasone as patients without the abnormality.  Patients with del(17p) did not show the same improvements when treated with Velcade-dexamethasone.

The presence of chromosomal abnormalities …

Kay Cromie was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2003 and is a firm believer that every myeloma patient needs to be their own advocate.

“It’s important to know enough about the disease so that when you start treatments, you can track your progress…Some people say their doctor will tell them everything they need to know, but you have to be your own advocate,” said Cromie.

Based on her own experiences with myeloma as well as experiences of other myeloma patients, …

Results of a recent study suggest that etoposide used in combination with G-CSF is a safe and effective mobilization strategy prior to stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients. The combination treatment resulted in a high stem cell harvest after one day of collection in most patients.

Stem cell mobilization is the process of increasing the number hematopoietic (blood forming) stem cells in the circulating blood to ensure that enough are available to be collected for the transplant. Hematopoietic stem …