CancerCompass message board discussion started by ja83ja on 4/5/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22729,0.htm Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My friend was recently diagnosed with MM.  He just got done doing 10 treatments of radiation and now he has one of his first follow up appointments with his oncologist.  His radioligist mentioned bone marrow transplant and chemo already.  He's pretty confused on what questions to ask.  Can anyone give me any suggestions of what he should ask?Thank you in advance.    ja83ja Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Good Evening JaJa;What were the 10 rad. treatments for?Also, I'm presuming he's already had complete blood work done. What are his numbers of the blood counts?What stage is he in?Is the Dr. going for an Auto SCT or an Allo or Tandem? How soon?What is his age?Take care;Kevin K. C. Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Ja83ja: I am sorry that your friend has had bad news and has mm. Radiation is usually given for pain relief and to slow the bone deterioration.He needs to ask: What stage if MM do I have.  What are the treatments. How much chemotherapy do I need.  What treatments can I expect and what are the side effects. What is the outcome of my disease.I also suggest he google or yahoo Multiple myeloma treatment.  Read as much as possible.   Take care MMSOn 4/5/2008 ja83ja wrote:My friend was recently diagnosed with MM.  He just got done doing 10 treatments of radiation and now he has one of his first follow up appointments with his oncologist.  His radioligist mentioned bone marrow transplant and chemo already.  He's pretty confused on what questions to ask.  Can anyone give me any suggestions of what he should ask?Thank you in advance.     mmsurvivor Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/5/2008 ja83ja wrote:My friend was recently diagnosed with MM.  He just got done doing 10 treatments of radiation and now he has one of his first follow up appointments with his oncologist.  His radioligist mentioned bone marrow transplant and chemo already.  He's pretty confused on what questions to ask.  Can anyone give me any suggestions of what he should ask?Thank you in advance.   First of all, I'm so sorry for what you and your friend are going through.  It is very kind of you to be trying to help him navigate the complex maze of MM treatment.   This is the most confusing sort of cancer I've ever seen, but admittedly there may be more complicated ones.It sounds a bit strange to me that his doctors went straight to radiation.  He he have MM with a plastocytoma rather than diffuse bone marrow involvement?   Otherwise, I would think they would want to induce him with a chemo regimen involving either Velcade, Revlimid or Thalidomide.In other words, did he have a single tumor outside of the bone marrow?  From what I've learned, it is unusual to do radiation alone, although radiation is good for the elimination of pain, as MM cells are very sensitive to radiation.Is his doctor up to date on the new meds that have been introduced to fight Myeloma over the past few years:  Velcade, Revlimid and Thalidomide, often in combination with steroids (Dexamethasone, Prednisone), and older agents such as cyclophosphamide and melphalen.Please stick around here, because I'm new here too and there are some fantastic people here, and they are very wise!Hugs,Mike  MCrow Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/5/2008 ja83ja wrote:My friend was recently diagnosed with MM.  He just got done doing 10 treatments of radiation and now he has one of his first follow up appointments with his oncologist.  His radioligist mentioned bone marrow transplant and chemo already.  He's pretty confused on what questions to ask.  Can anyone give me any suggestions of what he should ask?Thank you in advance.   Dear ja83ja,I guess my first question would be why radiation?  Radation is usually used to help bone pain.  Your friend should ask for the following tests for starters:monoclonal protein studies;  24 hour urine electrophoresis;  complete metabolic panel;  CBC with differential and platelet;  blood electrophoresis;  vitamin and iron studies (my husband was low on vit. D, iron, b-12);  bone marrow biopsy;  full body xrays.There are many tests that need to be run before talk of transplant.  We are just beginnig this process, but it is my understanding that most doctors would want his numbers (m-spike, IgG, etc.) to be brought into a certain range before harvest of stem cells or bone marrow.  That is usually done with some kind of treatment, oral or I.V.  Your friend needs to research the many new treatments that are out now.  My husband takes Revlimid, 25 mg, for 21 days and is off Revlimid for 7 days, making a 28 day cycle.  He also takes Dexamethasone, 40 mg, one day a week.  This has worked well for him.  This message board has a lot of good information to offer.  Taking the time to read the various messages really helps.    Hope this helps.  Keep us updated on your friend's progress.Jan (we'vebeen there) wevebeenthere Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT From Anna,Hi Ja, If you've not seen my link on MM links here.Hi all, Here some Multiple Myeloma Links I've found over the years my Dad has had it.The International Myeloma Foundation Is Here To… http://www.myeloma.org/  Web siteThe Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/  Web sitealt.support.cancer(unread)  aol://5863:126/alt.support.cancer  AOL message board on allkinds of cancer including Multiple Myeloma.Blood & Lymph Disorders aol://5863:126/mBLA:107465  Another AOL message board.IMF: Research: Clinical Trials http://www.myeloma.org/myeloma/research_trials.jsp  Clinical Trials siteMultiple Myeloma aol://5863:126/mBLA:107443  Message board.  Good one.Myeloma - Home Page from About.com  http://cancer.about.com/health/cancer/msub19.htm  Web site.MyelomaExchange http://www.webspawner.com/users/myelomaexchange/ Web site.Welcome to CUREtoday.com - Be sure to get your …  Online magazine about CancerMyeloma Focus3 Forest StreetNew Canaan, CT  06840International Myeloma Foundation-Myeloma Today Magazine2129 Stanley Hills Dr.Los Angeles, CA  90046CureATTN Sammons Tower Ste 48023535 Worth StDallas, TX  75246-9930 Your friend,Anna   Anna9563 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT