Answer Summary
Members responded to a question about skipping stem cell transplant (SCT) for multiple myeloma and relying on medication instead, with many... Read more
Everyone is different with both their physical conditions ,age , case severity, and multiple myeloma type. I have IgA Kappa Light Chain multiple myeloma since 2019, was on RVD protocol and now in complete response Revlimid maintenance. I have never relapsed , but side effects from multiple myeloma and Revlimid always present in one form or another. I am not MRD negative but am looking to head in that direction .Your decision should be made with your healthcare team as they are familiar with your medical health. I hope you can find a direction to take.
Many Hematologists are not recommending SCT for Standard risk, because the new Quad drugs are doing just as good of a job controlling MM, and they don’t wipe out your immune system like SCT.
Paula🌹
My Johns Hopkins Consulting Onc, in 2021, told me to get DarzFasPro, before it was the FDA Standard of Care for First Line Treatment.
He said DarzFasPro will provide for a Faster and Deeper Complete Remission and that the First Remission is the Most Important, saying that subsequent Remissions are less likely to last.
For me, he was Right and I know of many others that have had the same experience as me, based on DarzFasPro as part of their First Line Treatment.
There are studies now that suggest patients with standard risk disease, that get a complete response to induction, can go to maintenance and keep transplant in reserve for later. But, for those of us that did not get a complete response to induction, stem cell transplant is still a good option. I had one in 2017. I am not mrd negative, but have done well on a two drug maintenance plan.
This question comes up a lot on here, especially with new patients. The short story is SCT was, and probably still is, the gold bar standard after induction therapy as it has a long history and track record. That being said, the advances in MM treatments, new drugs, and new drug combinations over the past 5 years has been amazing- and very effective. Now drs aren’t always pushing people towards invasive SCT but to other treatments. For me, the safe bet was to harvest and freeze my stem cells just in case I needed them for future use. You can freeze them for at least 10 years.