Yes, induction therapy really does make a meaningful difference for myeloma patients. It's the critical first step in treatment, designed to get myeloma under control as quickly and completely as possible.
The main goals of induction therapy include:
- Reducing cancerous plasma cells in the body
- Achieving what doctors Show Full Answer
Yes, induction therapy really does make a meaningful difference for myeloma patients. It's the critical first step in treatment, designed to get myeloma under control as quickly and completely as possible.
The main goals of induction therapy include:
- Reducing cancerous plasma cells in the body
- Achieving what doctors call "deep remission" — where very few myeloma cells remain
- Preventing early complications
- Setting the stage for longer-lasting remissions down the road Getting into deep remission early is especially important because it tends to open up more treatment options later if myeloma returns.
Most people start with a powerful four-drug combination, the most common being:
- Daratumumab (Darzalex)
- Lenalidomide (Revlimid)
- Bortezomib (Velcade)
- Dexamethasone (a corticosteroid)
After induction therapy, many patients move on to a stem cell transplant or maintenance therapy to keep the myeloma under control for as long as possible. It's worth noting that the five-year survival rate for myeloma has doubled over the past 30 years, largely thanks to advances in treatment approaches that begin with effective induction therapy. That's a pretty remarkable shift.
As always, talking with your oncologist about which induction regimen is best suited to your specific situation is the most important step.
August 2
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