Congratulations on 14 months of remission — that's genuinely wonderful news! It makes complete sense to feel anxious about stopping a treatment that's been working, so this is a really important question.
Bortezomib (also known by brand names like Velcade or Boruzu) is well known for causing peripheral neuropathy — the Show Full Answer
Congratulations on 14 months of remission — that's genuinely wonderful news! It makes complete sense to feel anxious about stopping a treatment that's been working, so this is a really important question.
Bortezomib (also known by brand names like Velcade or Boruzu) is well known for causing peripheral neuropathy — the numbness, tingling, and pain you're experiencing. Your oncologist likely paused it specifically to give your nerves a chance to recover, which is a standard and medically sound approach. Here's what's important to understand about neuropathy and bortezomib:
- Nerve damage from bortezomib can worsen if the drug is continued
- Reducing or pausing the dose is a recognized way to manage this side effect
- Neuropathy can sometimes improve once the drug is paused or the dose is lowered
- In some cases, neuropathy can persist for a long time, so early action matters
As one MyMyelomaTeam member shared, their doctor reduced their dosage when neuropathy worsened over several weeks — and it helped. Regarding your myeloma during this pause — your oncologist will be monitoring you closely. Being in remission means the disease is currently under control, and a short treatment break is often manageable at this stage.
That said, it's absolutely worth having an open conversation with your oncologist about:
- What monitoring will happen during the 3-month pause
- What signs or symptoms to watch for
- What the plan is after the 3 months
Never hesitate to ask your doctor these questions directly — they're exactly the right ones to be asking!
October 2
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