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My 16 week induction treatment was valcad Dara and steroid and 86% of the burden is gone. I didn’t make a CR and that worries me. I start maintenance July 22 nd. same treatment but only one time a month in stead of once a week.

June 30
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A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Dolores, I haven't taken anything related to multiple myeloma since 2008. As you may know, it robbed me of both knees and 6" of spine; I know the fickle finger of fate decided I, and many others have been released from this disease. I'm confident it won't come back, but I still do annual bloodwork.

My insurer and health provider are one: Kaiser Permanente. There is no profit in keeping me on chemo or "maintenance." If I had another provider, I'd make sure to learn what my bloodwork results showed every time. If there is no sign of MM, I'd consider dropping chemo. Health care is a 'for-profit business.'
Trust but verify.

July 1
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Was my response to induction while being high risk very topical?

June 30
MyMyelomaTeam

First, an 86% reduction in myeloma burden after induction is a meaningful and encouraging response — that's a significant amount of disease cleared. Not reaching a complete remission (CR) after induction is actually quite common, and it doesn't close the door on deeper responses down the road.

Maintenance therapy plays an Show Full Answer

First, an 86% reduction in myeloma burden after induction is a meaningful and encouraging response — that's a significant amount of disease cleared. Not reaching a complete remission (CR) after induction is actually quite common, and it doesn't close the door on deeper responses down the road.

Maintenance therapy plays an important role here. It's designed to:

- Keep the myeloma under control
- Allow the body to continue responding over time
- Potentially deepen the remission that induction started Having high-risk features like 1q gain and the 4;14 translocation does mean doctors will watch things closely and tailor treatment carefully. The good news is that the combination used — Velcade (bortezomib), daratumumab, and a steroid — is considered a strong regimen, particularly for high-risk myeloma.

Maintenance on a monthly schedule is much gentler on the body while still working to hold the disease back. Many people find this phase more manageable than induction.

It's completely understandable to feel anxious about remission depth. Bringing these specific worries to the oncology team on July 22nd is a great opportunity — they can explain what markers they'll be tracking and what "deeper remission" might look like over time for this specific situation.

June 30

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