What is best. To last longest and safe? I’m nervous!!!
Well at age 71, been through I year of revlamide, velcade, Dexymethasone, darzalex and stem cell transplant diagnosed with IGG stage 3 standard risk now relapsed 1 year 3 months out after sct and was offered car t I refused it due to need a caregiver for 30 days people die 3 months later or have cognitive issues can’t speak.
And after my MDA appointment on Good Friday:
My echo gram showed my heart is in good condition and pet/ct scan showed my skeletal system has no active myeloma just degenerative disease due to age.
But my free kappa free lambda ratio is 3.43 and free kappa is 24.70 my IGG is 2,414 and rising so another chemo regime is necessary which will start in two weeks.
I went with a more standard safe approach of 28 day cycle of fast pro daratumumab shot weekly
Carfilzomib iv day 1, day 8, day 15
Dexamethasone orally weekly
I feel good about this choice of chemo drugs and finally got over my depression that I relapsed 1 year and 3 months after stem cell transplant
Really thought remission period would have lasted a lot longer
I had quit my vitamin regime but now I'm back on all of it plus my iron with Dr. Hans Li's approval as he said taking me off my iron was mainly to help with constipation.
But I’m taking other safer laxatives and high fiber foods now.
I'm ready for phase 3 now and will fortify my system with all the vitamins that help support which is mandatory if I want to succeed in surviving!
Four weeks isn't very long to see how you will respond. How are your labs? Most people respond to these drugs, but it takes time. They shouldn't make you feel like your decision is some kind of emergency. Some people are getting to MRD negativity without a transplant or CAR t. It's a big decision and they do recommend getting a second opinion from a second specialist. To help you determine the best options for you and the type of myeloma you have. Falling is never a good thing even worse with myeloma. A physical therapy consult is probably a good idea. Yes, CAR t, transplant and most myeloma drugs can make us all more at risk for falling. Wishing you peace with your decisions.
I’m sorry… made a mistake. I’ve finished 4 months and beginning on 5th. I’m just nervous since she already started talking sct I am in half remission as of now
As Donna said, get a 2nd or 3rd opinion. Become a strong advocate for yourself! Read up on all the available treatments pros and cons. Treating MM seems like an art form with each MM specialist having their own opinions and bias. Also some options may not be available to you as certain treatments are only FDA approved after 1st, 2nd or 3rd relapse. My introduction therapy lasted 8 months and I still wasn’t where I needed to be. In maintenance, my numbers continued to come down and didn’t hit normal, until a year out.