Multiple Myeloma

Hi Darlene, my brother is going in for a procedure tomorrow to fix 1-5 lumbars with a plasteo type product. He will get two fixed Wed. and the rest hopefully Thurs. He will be in the hospital for a few days. We hope it helps his back issue. Next week he will speak to his oncologist at Penn to determine the best treatment for the MM. Thanks for info on treatments and your prayers. It is greatly appreciated. Hope you are well. Sincerely, Beth

Dear Beth,
I hope your brother is doing well. I'm sorry for the delay in my reply. I do hope his back surgery went well. How are you holding up? I am still waiting for my counts to climb higher before I can get more Velcade. I get my answer to that on 8-31 this Wed. One thing for sure is that my counts are rising very slow, compaired to before I was treated with the velcade. Before my IgG counts would double in a matter of a few weeks. 18 months after my first velcade treatment my IgG counts are now rising above the 750 normal range. In the last five months my IgG counts have only climbed up to 1325. Which is fantastic in my book. This drug must be doing something right. I wish only the best for you and your brother. Darlene

Hi Beth,
I just read your message. I was diagnoised with MM in 2002. I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance because I could not move. I did not know at the time what I had. I had fractured my back also. I stayed in the hopital for 3 weeks. I went through 4 months of chemo, and in Sept 2002 I had a stem cell transplant. I hope all goes well for your brother. Please let me know how he is doing.
Paula

I was diagnosed dec 24, 2007. Began chemo in january, Had a stem cell transplant in august. The side effects were worse with the chemo ! And if asked I'd say the steroids were the very worst of it all. Its now oct. And I am feeling great !  A bit tired now and then, I have whole days of wanting to relax, but maybe thats just being 55 ! I am a patient at sloan kettering in NYC. Currently i am on little medication, mostly preventives until i get my immunations again. I await my next bone marrow text in Nov. - But I feel great ! And only hope that everyone who reads this knows that sometimes the worst is not as bad as expected.